1 dead, 10 rescued after migrant boat capsizes off Malaysia-Thailand waters

At least one individual has been found dead and 10 others have been rescued after a boat carrying nearly 100 undocumented migrants sank in waters near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime border, Malaysia's national news agency Bernama quoted local police as saying on Sunday.

Malaysia's Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah said the boat was part of a larger ship transporting around 300 people by a syndicate.

According to Adzli, around 300 migrants boarded a large vessel about a month ago. As the large vessel approached the Malaysian maritime border, the syndicate divided the migrants into three smaller boats to avoid detection by the authorities.

A boat carrying an estimated 100 people capsized three days ago, and the status of the other two boats is still unknown, said Adzli, according to Bernama.

Rescue operations are ongoing and more victims could be found, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Director for Kedah and Perlis states Romli Mustafa said in a statement on Sunday.

"There is a possibility that more victims will be found. Based on preliminary intelligence gathering, the boat boarded by the victims departed from Buthidaung, Myanmar, with an estimated 300 passengers," he said, according to Bernama.

Meanwhile, Romli reiterated that stern action will be taken against anyone trying to enter the country illegally.

"Cross-border syndicates are actively exploiting immigrants by making them victims of human trafficking using sea routes that are highly risky. The MMEA will not compromise with any parties involved in human trafficking activities," he said.