MSF acknowledged the swift rescue operations carried out by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) but said more could be done.

It urged Malaysia to strengthen search and rescue coordination across Asean, guarantee immediate medical and psychological care for survivors, and ensure that rescued asylum seekers are not punished or detained.

“With these critical steps, Malaysia can set a compassionate and humanitarian standard for the region, in line with the Asean vision of inclusivity with the goal of ‘leaving no one behind’,” the international medical group said in a statement today.

“This repeated and avoidable tragedy is yet again a stark reminder that protection, not deterrence, must guide the region’s response to maritime arrivals.”

Authorities in Malaysia and Thailand have recovered at least 21 bodies while searching for survivors after the boat capsized near Thailand’s Tarutao island, off the coast of Langkawi, four days ago.

Officials said the boat was carrying about 70 migrants, many believed to be from Myanmar’s persecuted Rohingya community, trying to reach Malaysia.

They were reportedly part of a larger group of some 300 people split across at least two boats.

MSF also said that the capsizing incident reflected the desperation of the Rohingya fleeing persecution and statelessness in Myanmar and Bangladesh.

“No one leaves Myanmar or Bangladesh by choice. These are dangerous boat journeys undertaken by people out of fear for their lives,” the group added.

“Safe passage and protection are not just international obligations; they are moral imperatives.”

The Rohingya have been persecuted in Myanmar for decades, and thousands risk their lives every year to flee repression and civil war, often aboard makeshift boats.

In 2024, some 657 Rohingya died in the region’s waters, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.