4 drown in Kota Tinggi boat incident

Four people drowned while 33 others were rescued after their boat capsized 80 metres from the Batu Layar beach near Kota Tinggi, Johor last night.

All the victims were believed to be illegal immigrants from Indonesia.

Bandar Penawar Fire and Rescue Operation commander Azlan Mohd Sobri said three men and a woman had drowned in the incident.

There were eight women among those rescued, he added.

He said the fire rescue officers arrived at the scene about 30 minutes after receiving distress call at about 11pm.

The rescued victims are currently being held by the Johor Bahru immigration department for further action as the boat which capsized was believed to have entered Malaysian waters illegally.