Batam, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - Malaysian authorities found the body of an Indonesian migrant worker after he was reported missing as one of the victims in a wooden boat that sank in Malaysian waters recently

"The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APPM) has found the body of one of the Indonesian workers," Jonas Lomban Tobing, Indonesian consul general in Johor Bahru said here on Saturday.

The boat was reportedly carrying 24 Indonesian migrant workers when it sank in East Johor waters enroute to Batam, Riau Islands province, early Wednesday.

The APPM found another body identified as Jumagin hailing from Trenggalek, in East Java, Tobing said, adding that the Malaysian authorities found the worker`s identity from a wallet in Jumagin`s pocket.

It was written in his identity card that Jumagin was born in Trenggalek, East Java on April 25, 1971.

"Jumagin`s body was still in a hospital of Kota Tinggi, Johor," the consul general said.

The Johor Bahru consulate general has tried to contact the victim`s family or heirs for the funeral purpose.

In the meantime, the Malaysian authorities continue to search the other six victims, the consulate general said.

The APPM saved as many as 17 out of 24 victims of the sinking ship after seven hours floating in the Malaysian waters.

Under the Malaysian government`s policy, the search would be conducted for three days since the tragedy occurred early Wednesday, he said.

The migrant workers were believed to be illegal as the boat did not depart from an authorized port in Malaysia.(*)

(B003/HAJM/a014)


Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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