Capsized boat victims floated about 24 hours before rescue

Two of 18 Indonesians rescued in the capsized boat incident at Beacon Api Gila in the waters off Sepang Wednesday, had to cling on to oil containers and floats for dear life.

Masri, 36, from Medan, Indonesia, said he had boarded the boat with 26 other compatriots and left Pantai Morib, Banting about 3am to return home for the fasting month in their respective villages.

"About two hours later, the wind suddenly became strong, the engine died and water entered the boat because the vessel had overturned. We panicked as some of us did not know how to swim.

"I quickly grabbed an oil container to hold on to and we were at sea until we were saved about 9am today," he told reporters at the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) headquarters in Pelabuhan Klang here yesterday.

Masri, who had worked in Malaysia since 1996 admitted he had stayed here illegally because his work permit had long expired.

"I paid RM650 to the agent to board the boat and do not know who he was as we only spoke on the telephone," he said.

Dahlia, 22, from Kampung Tanjung Balai in Sumatra Utara, Indonesia when met by reporters said when the boat overturned, a man gave her a float.

"This was the first time I was taking the boat...before this, I always returned by ferry. After this incident, I am afraid to take the boat again," she said.

In the incident at 5am, nine foreigners believed to be Indonesians are feared drowned while 18 others were rescued.

All of them were sent to the Klang MMEA headquarters about 5pm yesterday.