Fifth body recovered, five still missing from Belawai boat tragedy
A Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the body of a boy, whose age has yet to be determined, was recovered at 6pm, about 300m from the scene.
"As of now, five victims have been confirmed dead, five are still missing and seven have been rescued. The five missing victims are all adult males," the spokesman said in a statement.
In the incident that occurred around 2pm Saturday, a fibreglass boat carrying 17 Indonesian nationals from Kampung Belawai fishermen's jetty capsized en route to the Zion Pelita Coconut Plantation jetty.
The seven survivors include four adult men, two adult women and a boy.
Meanwhile, the four deceased victims found earlier comprised two adult women, a boy and a girl.
The search and rescue operation continues with surface-level searches within a 3km radius of the incident location, assisted by the police, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Sarawak Coast Guard, Rela and local villagers.
Sunday's operation was called off at 6.40pm and will resume Monday morning. - Bernama
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The Sun
6 hours ago
- The Sun
Fifth body found in Belawai boat tragedy, five still missing
MUKAH: The death toll from the Belawai boat tragedy has risen to five after another victim was recovered today. Search operations continue for five missing individuals following the capsizing incident off Pantai Belawai. The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department confirmed the recovery of a boy's body at 6 pm, approximately 300 metres from the accident site. His age remains undetermined. 'Five victims have been confirmed dead, five are still missing, and seven were rescued. All missing victims are adult males,' said a department spokesperson. The boat, carrying 17 Indonesian nationals, capsized yesterday afternoon while travelling from Kampung Belawai fishermen's jetty to the Zion Pelita Coconut Plantation jetty. Survivors include four men, two women, and a boy. Earlier victims recovered included two adult women, a boy, and a girl. Search efforts, covering a three-kilometre radius, involve multiple agencies, including the police, maritime enforcement, and local volunteers. Operations were suspended at 6.40 pm and will resume tomorrow. - Bernama
The Star
7 hours ago
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Fifth body recovered, five still missing from Belawai boat tragedy
MUKAH: The death toll from Saturday's (July 5) boat tragedy off the coast of Pantai Belawai rose to five on Sunday after another victim was found, as efforts continue to locate five others still missing. A Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the body of a boy, whose age has yet to be determined, was recovered at 6pm, about 300m from the scene. "As of now, five victims have been confirmed dead, five are still missing and seven have been rescued. The five missing victims are all adult males," the spokesman said in a statement. In the incident that occurred around 2pm Saturday, a fibreglass boat carrying 17 Indonesian nationals from Kampung Belawai fishermen's jetty capsized en route to the Zion Pelita Coconut Plantation jetty. The seven survivors include four adult men, two adult women and a boy. Meanwhile, the four deceased victims found earlier comprised two adult women, a boy and a girl. The search and rescue operation continues with surface-level searches within a 3km radius of the incident location, assisted by the police, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Sarawak Coast Guard, Rela and local villagers. Sunday's operation was called off at 6.40pm and will resume Monday morning. - Bernama
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
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Shut out the outside noise, continue your roar
MALAYSIA crushed Vietnam 4-0 last month at a packed National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in a display of dominance, flair and newfound depth. But instead of praise, Harimau Malaya have been pelted with abuse. Social media exploded. Fans from Indonesia and Vietnam accused Malaysia of manipulating the system. Conspiracy theories spread like wildfire. Some even demanded FIFA intervention. And the reason? Not how they played, but who played. That night, nine of Malaysia's starting 11 were naturalised players. Fifteen in total were listed on the team sheet. Six made their international debuts — Facundo Garces, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Hidalgo, Gabriel Palmero and Jon Irazabal. None were born in Malaysia, but all, according to the FA of Malaysia (FAM), are of Malaysian descent and had their documents vetted and approved by FIFA. Still, that didn't stop some quarters from crying foul. Indonesian media outlet Disway ID kicked off the storm, claiming FAM could face a US$2 million fine, the Vietnam result overturned, and even be banned from naturalising players in future if any documents are found to be false. One Indonesian fan site labelled Malaysia's approach "football piracy". But FAM moved swiftly to shut down the noise. "FIFA has checked. We followed the rules and regulations," said FAM president Datuk Joehari Ayub. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) backed that stance, with general-secretary Datuk Seri Windsor Paul confirming that no complaint had been lodged with the regional body and that all player eligibility matters fall under FIFA's jurisdiction. FAM secretary-general Datuk Noor Azman Rahman added: "We have not received any letters from FIFA or AFC. We followed all the regulations. We deny all those statements." So far, FIFA has remained silent. No red flags. No warnings. No sanctions. No signs of any wrongdoing. But this uproar isn't just about technicalities. It's about identity, perception, and pride, and a growing unease among fans and regional rivals over how quickly Harimau Malaya are changing. Naturalisation isn't new in this part of the world. Indonesia have long benefited from Dutch-Indonesian dual nationals, a by-product of colonial history. But the move has come good as Indonesia could qualify for next year's World Cup. The Philippines built an entire football programme around American and European-born Filipinos. Singapore experimented with imports in the early 2000s. Even Timor Leste brought in a wave of Brazilian players — but that ended in disaster when it was discovered their documents had been forged, triggering a massive FIFA and AFC probe. The players had no family ties to East Timor, just falsified baptism and birth records. The scandal rocked Asian football. But comparing Timor Leste to Malaysia is lazy and misguided. FAM has done its homework. All the players in question have documented Malaysian roots. FIFA has scrutinised and cleared their files. Everything, on paper and in practice, is in order. The real issue, perhaps, is that Malaysia are finally becoming a threat. Harimau Malaya are no longer just a "potential" side. They're a team with depth, technical ability and physical presence. Players like Figueiredo and Garces are not just passengers, they are game-changers. The victory over Vietnam sent a clear message across Southeast Asia — Malaysia are here to compete and dominate. And that's made some uncomfortable. There's a sense that this isn't about fairness, but fear. A fear that Malaysia's aggressive talent recruitment might tilt the regional balance. And locally, the backlash is mixed. Some fans are proud of the results. Others worry the national identity is being diluted. It's a delicate line. But it's not illegal. Nor is it unethical as long as the ancestry claims are legitimate and the paperwork checks out. International football has always been a reflection of a country's global footprint — migration, diaspora, dual nationality. The world is changing, and football is changing with it. FAM must now hold its ground. Not by shouting down critics, but by calmly reinforcing the facts: FIFA rules were followed. No violations occurred. The team are legitimate. If anything, this backlash is proof that Malaysia are doing something right. They've rattled their rivals. They've changed the conversation. And above all, they're finally winning again. The challenge now is to build trust with their fan base and prove that these new additions are not just "imports", but part of the Harimau Malaya family ready to fight for the badge. The noise may continue. The accusations may resurface. But if Malaysia keep playing the way they did against Vietnam, the football will do the talking. And it might just drown out the rest.
