Aminuddin speaking to some of the illegal immigrants who were rescued after the boat capsize. — Bernama photo
JOHOR BAHARU: In an attempt to resist arrest by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), a boat ferrying 80 Indonesian illegal immigrants crashed into an MMEA vessel twice, only to capsize in the waters off Tanjung Piai near Pontain on Monday night.
MMEA South Region enforcement head Captain Aminuddin Abdul Rashid said the 11.40pm incident occurred about three nautical miles southeast of Tanjung Piai.
He said the boat, believed to be carrying 80 illegal immigrants in their 20s and 50s, capsized after being trapped in front of the MMEA boat, in an attempt to resist arrest.
He said the incident resulted in the deaths of two illegal immigrants while 17 others were feared drowned. A total of 61 illegals immigrants were rescued.
“The 15-metre-long boat with four high powered engines was believed to be on its way to Pulau Batam, Indonesia after attempting to sneak out of the country, via Tanjung Adang in Gelang Patah,” Aminuddin told reporters at the MMEA sougth region headquarters here yesterday.
He said earlier, three MMEA personnel involved in the ‘Ops Tumpas’ operation in the waters, received information of a boat moving in a suspicious manner and tried to approach it for inspection.
“However, the boat refused to stop when ordered and acted aggressively by twice crashing into the MMEA vessel.
“After almost 10 minutes, the boat again tried to hit the MMEA vessel but ended stuck in front of the vessel, causing water to enter the boat and capsize. MMEA personnel were only aware the boat was carrying illegal immigrants when passengers started jumping into the sea as their boat began to sink,” he added.
He said 61 people were rescued Monday night.
However, a woman in her 20’s and a man in his 30’s died on the way to the Sultanah Aminah Hospital here.
He said two people who admitted being the boat’s skippers were rescued about 10am this morning, while swimming not far from the Tanjung Pelepas Port near Gelang Patah.
Aminuddin said the search and rescue operation for 17 other missing illegal immigrants was being conducted with the assistance of the state fire and rescue department, marine police and civil defence department.
He said Tanjung Adang had been identified as a popular route for the smuggling of cigarettes and other contraband, adding the MMEA believed the route was now being used to smuggle illegal immigrants, instead of the route in Pengerang near Kota Tinggi.
“Our investigations revealed the 80 illegal immigrants had each paid about RM1,500 for the trip to Pulau Batam, Indonesia,” he added. — Bernama