Malaysian patrols are searching the Andaman Sea for members of Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya minority after a boat sank last week, with another vessel reported missing. Since Thursday, 21 bodies have been recovered—12 in Malaysia and nine in Thailand. The regional head of Malaysia’s maritime agency, Romli Mustafa, noted that without life jackets, survival chances are slim, though 13 survivors have been rescued.
The Rohingya, who face violence in Myanmar and harsh conditions in overcrowded refugee camps in Bangladesh, often risk perilous sea journeys to reach Malaysia. Recently, hundreds boarded a vessel from Bangladesh, with one boat carrying around 70 people sinking near Langkawi. The fate of another boat with 230 passengers remains uncertain.
Among the missing is 29-year-old Mohammed Ibrahim, whose brother expressed concern for his family left behind. With over 5,100 Rohingya attempting to escape by sea this year, many are driven by desperation, believing that life in Bangladesh is untenable. Malaysia, a preferred destination for Rohingya, has tightened immigration controls, detaining those rescued as investigations continue.
