by Hafizur Rahman
Langkawi, November 14, 2025 —
Search and rescue teams have recovered 31 bodies — 22 in Malaysian waters and nine in Thailand — after a boat carrying Rohingya refugees capsized near the Malaysia–Thailand maritime border. Fourteen people have been rescued so far, while many others remain missing.
The boat, believed to be carrying more than 70 passengers, overturned near Tarutao, Thailand, approximately four to five nautical miles from Malaysia’s maritime boundary during rough monsoon weather.
Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said saving lives remains the government’s main focus. “Our focus remains on saving lives. Legal and investigative matters are secondary at this stage,” he told reporters in Langkawi.
The search operation involves 177 Malaysian personnel from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the Royal Malaysian Navy, and marine police, working jointly with Thai authorities. Air, sea, and coastal searches are continuing despite difficult weather conditions.
The recovered bodies have been taken to Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi for post-mortem examinations. Survivors are receiving medical treatment and are under police custody for interviews regarding their identities and the possible involvement of trafficking syndicates.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the refugees may have been transferred from a larger “mothership” to smaller boats before attempting to reach Malaysian waters.
Langkawi has long been a common landing point for undocumented refugees due to its proximity to Thailand. While 11 landings were recorded in 2023, Malaysian authorities say more than 217 cases have been documented so far this year.
To strengthen maritime monitoring, Saifuddin said the MMEA will receive new assets, including helicopters, patrol vessels, drones, and radar systems. “Four new helicopters from Italy are expected to arrive next year,” he said.
Since 2010, nearly 2,300 undocumented migrants have been detained in waters around Langkawi. The Home Minister noted that transnational migration and trafficking are being addressed through the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime, with plans to expand regional cooperation and intelligence sharing.
Search operations are ongoing as authorities continue to look for additional survivors and victims.
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