Ammon News - Malaysia's maritime agency has launched a search and rescue operation for 14 ​people missing after a boat believed to ‌be carrying undocumented Indonesian migrants sank off its western coast on Monday.

A fisherman alerted authorities early Monday after ​discovering victims floating in the waters off ​Pangkor island, Perak state maritime director Mohamad ⁠Shukri Khotob said in a statement.

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A local fishing ​vessel rescued 23 Indonesians, including seven women, who ​were escorted to a marine police jetty for documentation and further investigations, Mohamad Shukri said.

Initial investigations found that ​the sunken boat, carrying 37 people, had departed ​from Kisaran, Indonesia on May 9 with its passengers headed ‌for ⁠several Malaysian destinations including the capital Kuala Lumpur and Penang island in the northwest.

"As of now... the remaining victims have yet to be ​identified and search ​operations are ⁠continuing," Mohamad Shukri said.

Accidents are common in the waterways between Indonesia ​and Malaysia, usually involving overloaded boats ferrying ​labourers ⁠seeking work in Malaysian plantations and factories.

An estimated 100,000 to 200,000 Indonesians make the perilous journey ⁠each ​year, often recruited by trafficking ​gangs and subject to exploitation when they arrive, migrant activists have ​said.

Reuters