Wednesday October 1, 2008
12 killed as boat capsizes
By DHARMENDER SINGH and CHRISTINA TAN
PORT KLANG: A barter trade boat bound for Indonesia and believed to be illegally ferrying some 140 people capsized about four nautical miles from Westport here, killing at least 12 passengers.
Three other fishing boats also sank late Monday near Pulau Sungai Lima due to strong waves. A Malaysian vessel, the Yensen Voyage 402/401, carrying 22 crewmen, sank in the South China Sea after running into engine problems.
To safety: Survivors of the capsized boat being led by Westport staff members and rescue workers to safety yesterday. They were rescued by a container ship belonging to the Korea Maritime Transport Company Ltd.
Klang district police chief Asst Comm Mohamad Mat Yusop said police received a call at 7.30am about the capsized barter trade boat, informing them that survivors were seen near Pulau Pintu Gedong, the entry point for vessels heading for Westport.
Shortly after, boats from the marine police, Fire and Rescue Department, Westport and the Civil Defence with about 50 personnel combed the area and rescued 113 people. There were 12 bodies.
One of the first to be rescued was a seven-month-old baby who is in serious but stable condition at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital. “We believe that the boat capsized as it was overloaded. Most barter trade boats can only take between 70 and 80 people but this one was carrying 140 people. It’s difficult for us to tell how many are still missing,” ACP Mohamad said here yesterday.
The boat, which was heading for Tanjung Balai in Sumatra, broke into pieces after it capsized but police found and took into custody the captain and five crewmen aged between 30 and 40.
Devastated: Women crying as they are taken to the nearest police station after they were rescued at Westport yesterday. ACP Mohamad said police believed the boat picked up the passengers from the jungle on Pulau Che Mat Din located just next to Pulau Pintu Gedong, not far from Westport.
He said most of the survivors were on their way home to Indonesia to celebrate Hari Raya. “Since they lost their documents, we cannot determine how many came into the country legally,” ACP Mohamad said.
Survivors who did not need medical attention would be taken to the police station for questioning before they were handed to the Immigration Department to be deported, he added.
Port police head Mejar V. Manisegara said the current spring tide could also create strong currents and this could further put boats in danger.
Meanwhile, a Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital spokesman said the hospital received 18 survivors including four children and 10 women.
The Maritime Enforcement Agency said in a statement that four helicopters were used in the search and rescue effort.
The three fishing boats capsized around midnight after being hit by strong waves.
It is learnt that the fishing boats with three men on board each vessel were struggling against the waves for some time before a big wave caused them to overturn.
The fishermen escaped injury and were rescued by other fishing boats in the area. The strong winds also partly damaged the old wooden jetty on Pulau Sungai Lima.
Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Jen Tan Sri Da’i Bachtiar urged his countrymen working in Malaysia to let the barter trade boat tragedy be a lesson not to use illegal means of transport.
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