A boat carrying 15 passengers capsized on the Perhentian Island during the weekend, killing a man and two children. According to PDRM, none of the passengers had life jackets on, and the boatman tested positive for drugs.

The surviving victims had a story to tell about why they had no life jackets on.

The victims repeatedly asked for life jackets but were told by the boatman that the safety wear not usable because they were wet.

The 22-year-old boatman previously said he advised the passengers against taking the boat ride home due to the stormy and rainy weather. The passengers had just finished their dinner around 9 PM and wanted to return to their rooms. A Sanggetha, who lost her husband and children to the incident, said otherwise.

“My husband kept asking for life jackets but the boatman said they were wet. He told us it was okay because the trip back to our resort would only take 10 to 15 minutes.”

All passengers, consisting of Sanggetha’s children, her husband, his friends, and their family members, eventually boarded the boat to return to the resort. As they were nearing the dock, their boat was hit by large waves. The strong current caused the boat to sway and ultimately capsize.

Sanggetha pointed out that she couldn’t swim but did her best to stay afloat. She was then brought to the clinic for treatment, where she contacted her husband’s friend, who broke the bad news to Sanggetha.

This was her first trip to Perhentian Island with the family, and the plan for a birthday celebration unexpectedly ended in a tragedy.

“Right now, I can’t think of anything. Everything happened in the blink of an eye. I just hope the same tragedy does not happen to anyone else.”

“I have to accept the reality and I have to be strong for my remaining child,” Sangeetha said, reported Harian Metro. 

The 22-year-old boatman, on the other hand, is currently remanded by the police to assist with the investigation.