KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian authorities said yesterday they have arrested two Indonesian men in connection with one of two boat accidents that have left 15 people dead and 27 others still missing.
Eighty-two people have been rescued so far in an ongoing search off western Malaysia after the boats sank in separate incidents early Wednesday.
The boats, both believed to be bound for the neighbouring Indonesian island of Sumatra, were carrying illegal migrant workers heading home for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.
Adnan Abdullah, head of criminal investigations in central Selangor state, said police had detained two Indonesians believed to be the shipping agent and coordinator of the boat that sank off Port Klang with 97 people aboard.
He added the duo were being held under the anti-trafficking and smuggling of migrants act, but did not comment further.
The Star daily reported the men, aged 44 and 54, were arrested early yesterday at a premise in Port Klang, the country’s main port.
Both have valid travel documents.
Twelve men and three women have died, while 27 others remain missing.
The second vessel carried 27 passengers and sank slightly south near the district of Sepang. Twenty from that boat have been rescued, while seven are missing.
AFP
