Bodies of three Indonesian women found, 13 others rescued after boat sank

BATU PAHAT: The bodies of three Indonesian women were recovered while 13 others were rescued when a boat sank 15 nautical miles South-west of Sungai Muar estuary, near the Straits of Malacca, early yesterday.
Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Batu Pahat chief Lieut Commander Iskandar Ishak said the survivors aged between 19 to 41 years comprised one woman and 12 men.
"They were taken to Batu Pahat MMEA jetty while the three bodies were handed over to the police," he told reporters at Batu Pahat MMEA office in Jalan Minyak Beku, here last night.
Meanwhile, the boat's skipper and his assistant were handed over to the police for questioning.
Iskandar said the search and rescue involving two patrol boats was continuing despite the rough sea conditions.
In the incident at 5am, the boat which departed from Parit Bunga, Ledang was heading for Bengkalis, Indonesia.
Upon arrival at the scene of the incident, the boat was hit by high waves and sank.
The passengers swam to safety and some were rescued by a merchant vessel heading for Singapore at 11.30am.
Investigation found that each passenger paid between RM600 to RM2,500 to go home for Aidilfitri celebration.
Iskandar said the survivors were investigated under the Immigration Act which carries a sentence of five years' jail and fine of RM10,000 or both.
The boat's skipper and his assistant were investigated under the Trafficking of People Act which carries five years jail term, a RM250,000 fine or both.
Meanwhile, the only female victim who survived, Asrawati Abd Majid said she spent six hours in the rough sea before being rescued by a merchant vessel.
The single mother, 45, said she going home to Jambi, Indonesia, to celebrate Aidilfitri with her children.
She counted herself as very lucky for surviving the boat incident.
Another survivor, Mohd Norbiati, 22, said that he was using the services of illegal marine transportation for the first time.
The construction worker in Muar said he was lucky to hold on to a drum before rescued by a merchant vessel on the way to Singapore. – Bernama