Boat carrying over 100 people sinks offshore Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- A boat carrying more than 100 people sank off the coast of a port near Kuala Lumpur early Tuesday morning and at least six people were killed, local media reported.

The vessel, believed to be a barter trade boat, sank off the coast near Klang, a sea port southwest of the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, the website of English-language newspaper The Star said.

Rescuers had so far pulled out 107 survivors and six bodies, and were trying to ascertain the actual number of passengers and crewmen on board before the mishap, it said.

Most of the people aboard the boat were suspected illegal immigrants, the newspaper said, quoting local police authorities as saying the vessel was suspected to try to smuggle Indonesians going home for the Hari Raya celebrations.

Selangor State police said that the authorities concerned currently focused their efforts on rescuing survivors and search for the dead or missing.

The boat capsized perhaps due to overloading, police said, adding the case is still under investigation.

Port Klang is one of the busiest ports in the country and it is located some 40 km southeast of Kuala Lumpur.