Boat carrying illegals sinks, at least six drown

PORT KLANG, Sept 30 - A boat carrying suspected illegal immigrants sank off the coast near Westport here early today, killing at least six people.

Rescuers have so far pulled out 107 survivors and six bodies, and are trying to ascertain the actual number of passengers and crewmen who had been on board.

Selangor marine police commandant Deputy Supt Marzuki Ismail told The Star online that police suspected the vessel involved was a barter trade boat that was trying to smuggle Indonesians going home for the Hari Raya celebrations.

“We are currently concentrating our efforts on rescuing survivors and looking for the dead or missing.

“We are still investigating, but the boat could have capsized because it was overloaded as is most often the case with boats carrying illegals,” he said.