JOHOR BARU: Five Indonesians who survived after their wooden boat sank in coastal waters near Batu Pahat have been handed over to their consulate here.

       Johor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director First Admiral Nurul Hizam Zakaria said the survivors were brought to the Indonesian Consulate and received by its representative Hariyadi at around 1.45pm on Monday (Jan 3).

       “The five victims, aged between 24 and 44, are scrap dealers and were on their way with a load from Pulau Nipah to Batam when their boat sprang a leak and sank on Sunday (Jan 3)," Nurul Hizam said in a statement.

       He said a merchant vessel in the area came to their aid by giving them a safety raft as emergency assistance.

       Nurul Hizam said the victims were later rescued by a local fishing boat before being taken on board an MMEA Petir 51 rescue boat.

       He said Johor MMEA expressed its gratitude for the aid and support shown by the maritime community for assisting the agency's search and rescue operations.

       He urged seafarers to contact the Johor MMEA Operations Centre at 07-2199401 or the emergency line at MERS 999, if there is an emergency or to provide information on any mishaps in Johor waters.