Police Ask Next Of Kin To Claim Bodies Of Langkawi Boat Tragedy Victims

ALOR SETAR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Police are asking the next of kin of or anyone who recognises illegal immigrants who died in a boat capsize incident in Malaysian-Thailand border waters in November to come forward to claim the bodies of the victims.

Langkawi district police chief ACP Khairul Azhar Nuruddin said the individuals may go to the Langkawi district police headquarters (IPD) and meet with the investigating officer handling the case.

"On Nov 8, police received information regarding the boat capsize incident involving about 100 victims, all believed to be (ethnic Rohingya) migrants fleeing Myanmar. Fourteen victims survived while 30 others died.

"There were several of them partially identified but not yet confirmed. So, we urge the next of kin or members of the public who recognise the victims to meet the IPD investigating officer (IO) and undergo DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) testing and claim the bodies," he said in a statement today.

He said any further information or enquiries can be made to IOs Inspector Nor Amin Nordin or SM Mohd Shahril Mohd Isnin at 04-9666222.

In November, a boat believed to be carrying illegal immigrants sank and several bodies were recovered during a nine-day search and rescue operation covering a search area of ​​1,745.88 square nautical miles.

The operation was activated on Nov 9 after the Langkawi Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre (MRSC) received a report of the first victim found in Langkawi waters the day before.

-- BERNAMA