Eleven survivors of a fatal boat capsize two weeks ago were brought before a Malaysian court on Wednesday, facing charges of illegal entry into the country.
The accused — nine Myanmar nationals, believed to be Rohingya, and two Bangladeshis, aged between 17 and 43 — were among 14 people rescued after their overcrowded vessel capsized near the Thai border on November 6.
Authorities say the group was part of about 70 undocumented migrants attempting to reach Malaysia when their boat overturned off the coast of a Thai island near Malaysian waters.
According to the charge sheet viewed by AFP, the individuals allegedly entered Malaysia near Langkawi “without valid passes.” Under Malaysian law, if convicted, they could face a fine of up to US$2,400 (RM9,950), up to five years in prison, and up to six strokes of the cane.
However, proceedings were delayed. Langkawi police chief Khairul Azhar Nuruddin said the charges were read in court, but the accused “did not understand”, prompting the case to be postponed to December 21 to allow interpreters to be arranged.
Rescue authorities confirmed that at least 36 people died in the sinking, and the search for additional survivors was officially called off on Monday.
Malaysia, a relatively affluent country in the region, hosts millions of migrant workers in sectors such as agriculture and construction. However, perilous sea journeys arranged by trafficking syndicates often involve unsafe, overcrowded vessels, leading to frequent tragedies.
