Cops say illegals on capsized boat near Pontian paid boatman RM580 each and were promised jobs

JOHOR BARU: Each of the 11 Indonesian illegals who were on a boat that capsized in Pontian waters had paid their boatmen about two million rupiah (RM580) each to help sneak them into the country, say the police.

Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said that investigations showed that they were promised jobs as domestic helpers in Kuala Lumpur.

He added that on Tuesday (Jan 18), the police had received information about a boat ferrying illegals having capsized off the coast of Pontian.

"Six of the victims drowned. Those saved include two Indonesian men and five women," he said, adding that the two boatmen had also drowned in the incident.

All 13 of them are aged 25 to 35.

Comm Kamarul said the police would work with the Indonesian consulate on the case and also beef up security along the illegal routes (laluan tikus) used by illegals to sneak into the country.

On Tuesday, the Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said that six Indonesian women died in the boat tragedy, adding that five women and two men survived.

More to come