One dead, four missing in boat capsize

KOTA TINGGI - An illegal immigrant drowned and another four were missing when their boat capsized after being struck by strong waves off Tanjung Pengelih, near here on Thursday.

One illegal immigrant and the ill-fated boat's tekong were rescued in the incident which occurred at about noon.

The boat had left an undesignated jetty at Kampung Pasir Putih in Pasir Gudang and was believed to be heading towards Pulau Batam, Indonesia.

The tragedy only came to light more than eight hours later when a fisherman rescued the boat's tekong -- Harman Latip, 44, off Tanjung Pengelih. The fisherman alerted the Johor Baru Maritime Rescue Sub-centre at 8.25pm.

Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) southern region enforcement chief First Admiral Adon Shalan said the agency and the Marine Operations Force sent out a 30-member search and rescue party to the site of the incident.

"About 9.30pm, we found another victim nearby who was found clinging to a buoy to keep afloat. We rushed him to a marina jetty at Tanjung Pengelih for immediate medical treatment.

"The survivor, Zulkarnain Yusman said he managed to hold on to the buoy when the boat capsized while the rest, including a woman, drifted off into Singapore waters," he said.

The two rescued victims were treated at the Sungai Rengit health clinic before they were sent to the district police station to assist in investigations.

Adon said the Singapore police coast guard found a body in their waters about 2am yesterday. The victim, identified as Shamsuddin, 34, was believed to be one of the boat passengers.

"The search and rescue continues today. We are working closely with Singapore coast guard and the Singapore Maritime Rescue Control Centre."

Adon said the MMEA, in cooperation with the Johor Immigration Department, had been monitoring undesignated jetties in the state to nab illegal foreigners.

He said at least 10 boats had been spotted attempting to smuggle out illegal foreigners from Johor during Ramadan.

"However, most of them had to make a U-turn and hide in forests nearby or abandoned their trips after we spotted them attempting to sneak out of the country."

Saturday 18 August 2012

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