Immigrants paid RM1,200 to go home for Ramadan, says envoy

KLANG, June 19 — The immigrants on board the ill-fated boat that sunk near Sungai Air Hitam yesterday had paid between RM1,000 and RM1,200 each to head back to Indonesia for Ramadan, Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno said

Herman, while expressing his sympathies to families of the victims, said the boat was overloaded as the passengers were eager to return to their homes in Aceh and Bandung. 

“Many of them were in the country illegally as their tourist visas had expired and they had overstayed. They were finding work here but were on their way back to Indonesia for Ramadan," he said after visiting some of the survivors at the Tanjung Karang police station. “It is a sad tragedy."

Herman said the 30 immigrants at the station were in good health and were recovering from the traumatising event.

“The police have provided them with enough food and necessities. They will investigate the matter but the Indonesian government is willing to provide any form of assistance if required," he said. 

“Police have assured me that they will continue searching for the other victims until they are found.”

Kuala Langat OCPD Supt Azman Abdul Razak said 30 survivors were being held at the Tanjung Karang police station while the rest were at the Customs Department in Klang. 

The immigrants rescued included 12 women and one child. 

Previous boat sinking incidents

■ April 2009: A boat carrying a Pakistani family overturned in Pengerang, Johor, killing six on board except for a 14-year-old boy. The Pakistani high commission said the family of seven were in Malaysia on tourist visas. 

■ Feb 2010: A wooden ship carrying 14 illegal migrant workers sank after colliding with a logistics vessel that transported logistics for an oil and gas company operating along the border of Malaysia and Indonesia. The boat was heading illegally to Malaysia from Batam.

■ July 20, 2011: Malaysian authorities rescued 46 Indonesians trying to sneak back into their country when their boat sank. The 46, believed to be illegal immigrants, were saved from their boat after it experienced engine trouble off southern Johor. 

■ Feb 1, 2012: Fourteen illegal immigrants drowned when their boat capsized off Johor. The boat carrying 24 illegal immigrants was heading to Indonesia’s Batam Island when it sank. Those on board included Pakistanis, Iraqis and Afghanistan nationals who were attempting to reach Australia via Indonesia. 

■ Dec 20, 2012: Ten illegal immigrants from Indonesia, including two pregnant women, drowned in Johor after the boat they were travelling in capsized. The group was believed to be heading to Indonesia.

■ Oct 22, 2013: Five women were detained by the Marine Operations Force in Sandakan for entering the country illegally via a speedboat. The five, aged between 24 and 36, did not possess any documents and were believed to have entered the country from the Philippines.  

■ Jan 14, 2013: A pump boat carrying 41 people sank after being hit by waves off Teluk Ramunia, Pengerang near Kota Tinggi. Those on board were 35 men and four women aged between 20 and 30, and two girls aged one and two, believed to be illegal immigrants. The boat was bound for Batam Island, allegedly from Lombok, Indonesia. 

■ June 11, 2014:  Bangladesh coastguard rescued a stricken boat in the Bay of Bengal packed with 300 nationals trying to flee to Malaysia. One of the passengers reportedly said there were four bodies on board the Malaysia-bound boat which was being towed to a Bangladeshi island in rough seas.