Perak Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director Shukri Khotob said the bodies – three women and one man – were spotted by marine police at 2pm.

“Marine police found the bodies floating some 13 nautical miles from Pulau Talang, near Segari.

“All victims are believed to have drifted north with the current, roughly 10 nautical miles from the location where the boat was reported to have sunk.

“There are still 10 victims unaccounted for, and search efforts will continue with assets from the marine police and navy,” he told a press conference at the Kampung Acheh marine police jetty here.

He said 27 victims had been found, including 23 rescued on the first day of the operation.

Shukri said the search area has been expanded to find the remaining victims.

Today’s search covers an area of 151 square nautical miles, located 8.2 nautical miles northwest of Pangkor island.

He said the bodies were brought to the Kampung Acheh PPM jetty and then sent to Seri Manjung Hospital for further action.

Shukri said the agency received a report at about 5.30am yesterday from a local fisherman who spotted the victims floating at sea and requested immediate assistance.

Initial investigations revealed that 37 people, believed to be Indonesians, were aboard the vessel.

They are believed to have departed from Kisaran, Indonesia, on May 9, bound for various destinations in Malaysia, including Penang, Terengganu, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur.

The search and rescue operation was suspended at 10pm and would resume at 7.30am tomorrow.