Hundreds of people, believed to be Rohingya refugees and other migrants, were reported missing on Sunday (Nov 9) after a vessel capsized near the Thailand-Malaysia maritime border. Malaysian authorities confirmed that 10 survivors and one body had been recovered as search and rescue efforts continued for the third consecutive day.
According to Malaysia’s Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the ill-fated boat had departed from Buthidaung, Myanmar, earlier in the week, carrying an estimated 300 passengers—many of them believed to be Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The vessel reportedly sank in rough waters near Langkawi, an island off Malaysia’s northwestern coast.
First Admiral Romli Mustafa, the MMEA director overseeing the northern states of Kedah and Perlis, said the search operation was being conducted in coordination with Thai maritime authorities. “We believe more victims might still be adrift or trapped underwater. The operation remains focused on locating any survivors as well as recovering bodies,” he said.
Among those rescued were three Myanmar nationals, two Rohingya men, and one Bangladeshi man, authorities said. The only recovered fatality was identified as a Rohingya woman. All survivors were found clinging to debris several nautical miles off Langkawi, according to the national news agency Bernama, which cited Kedah police chief Adzli Abu Shah.
Preliminary investigations suggest the tragedy occurred when the group, attempting to reach Malaysian shores clandestinely, was ordered to transfer from their larger vessel to three smaller wooden boats near the maritime border to evade patrols. Each smaller vessel carried roughly 100 passengers, but only one of them has so far been accounted for.
“The migrants were told to board three smaller boats in the hope of slipping through undetected,” Adzli told local reporters. “We have yet to determine the fate of the other two boats.”
The Malaysian Maritime Agency said the search zone has been widened to cover both Malaysian and Thai territorial waters. Dozens of rescue vessels and aircraft are being used in the ongoing mission, with additional support from the Royal Malaysian Navy and local fishermen who reported sighting floating debris and personal belongings.
The Rohingya, a stateless Muslim minority from Myanmar’s western Rakhine State, have faced decades of persecution, displacement, and denial of citizenship by Myanmar’s Buddhist-majority government. Large-scale military operations in 2017 forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to neighboring Bangladesh, where most remain confined to overcrowded refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Human rights organizations say worsening conditions in those camps — including food shortages, violence, and limited access to work or education — have driven many Rohingya to attempt the perilous sea journey to Malaysia, Thailand, or Indonesia in search of a better life.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed grave concern over the latest tragedy. “This incident highlights once again the extreme risks faced by refugees who are left with no safe or legal pathways,” a spokesperson said. “Regional cooperation is urgently needed to save lives and prevent further tragedies.”
Maritime tragedies involving Rohingya boats have become increasingly frequent in recent years. In 2024 alone, more than 4,500 Rohingya were reported to have attempted sea crossings from Bangladesh and Myanmar toward Southeast Asia, according to UNHCR data. Dozens of boats have gone missing or capsized, often due to overcrowding, engine failure, or storms.
Malaysia, though not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, has long been a preferred destination for Rohingya and other migrants due to its Muslim-majority population and perceived economic opportunities. The country currently hosts more than 180,000 refugees and asylum seekers registered with UNHCR, of whom over 100,000 are Rohingya.
However, Kuala Lumpur’s stance toward irregular migration has hardened in recent years. Amid growing domestic pressure and economic strains, authorities have tightened border patrols and increased arrests of undocumented migrants. Human rights groups have criticized Malaysia for turning away stranded refugee boats or detaining survivors under immigration laws.
Despite those challenges, local humanitarian groups have urged the government to prioritize saving lives over border enforcement. “Regardless of their legal status, these are human beings fleeing desperate conditions,” said a spokesperson for the Malaysian NGO Tenaganita. “The focus now must be on rescuing survivors and preventing more deaths.”
As of Sunday evening, rough weather continued to hamper the search-and-rescue operation. Officials said the chances of finding more survivors were diminishing, though efforts would continue into the coming days.
For many of the missing, their fate remains unknown — another chapter in the ongoing saga of the Rohingya’s flight from persecution and statelessness.
“The sea has become both their escape route and their graveyard,” said one Malaysian rescue worker. “We just hope to find them before it’s too late.”
