Malaysia's maritime agency?launched? a search-and-rescue?operation to find 14 people who are missing after a sunk?boat carrying undocumented Indonesian migrants sank on its west coast.

In a statement, maritime director Mohamad Shkri Khotob stated that a fisherman notified authorities on Monday morning after he discovered victims floating in waters near Pangkor Island in Perak.

Mohamad Shkri reported that a 'local fishing vessel' rescued 23 Indonesians including seven women. They were then escorted by the marine police to a jetty where they would be questioned and given documentation.

Initial investigations revealed that the 37-person'sunken' boat had left Kisaran in Indonesia on 9 May, with passengers heading to several Malaysian destinations, including Kuala Lumpur, the capital, and Penang Island, a small island to the northwest.

Mohamad Shurakri stated that "search operations continue" and the remaining victims are still not identified.

Accidents are a common occurrence on the waterways connecting Indonesia and Malaysia. They usually involve overloaded boats transporting workers seeking employment in Malaysian 'plantations and factories.

Migrant activists claim that between 100,000 and 200,000 Indonesians travel to the United States each year. They are often recruited by trafficking gangs, and then exploited when they reach their destination. (Reporting and editing by Martin Petty; Rozanna Latiff)

(source: Reuters)