15 missing after boat capsizes in Malaysia
By DPA, IANSWednesday, June 23, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR - Rescuers searched Wednesday for as many as 15 people after the boat they were travelling in capsized off Malaysia’s southern coast the previous day.
Marine police rescued seven Indonesian nationals, but as many as 15 others were still missing.
Rescuers also recovered the bodies of a 7-year-old girl and a 30-year-old man.
The trawler was believed to be ferrying undocumented immigrants working in Malaysia back to Indonesia. District police chief Baljeet Singh was quoted by the Star newspaper as saying that the boat capsized in bad weather Tuesday.
Malysian police Wednesday arrested two men among the seven people rescued, accusing them of operating the boat that was believed to be en route to Dumai, Indonesia.
The suspects, who were being treated for injuries, have been remanded for seven days.
Nearly 1 million Indonesians are believed to be in Malaysia illegally, most working in agriculture, construction and manufacturing.
