According to the MalaysianMaritime Enforcement Agency, the bodies of six women and three menwere washed ashore at a beach near the town of Mersing early January 23.
The agency’s spokesperson said there were about40 Indonesians who were illegal immigrants on the boat, which was heading fromIndonesia to Malaysia when it capsized.
A search is underway for the remaining passengers.
Last November, a speedboat that was alsosuspected of carrying illegal Indonesian migrant workers returningfrom Malaysia sank near Batam Island, south of Singapore. Morethan 40 people were missing in the case.-VNA