Forty-one people believed to be illegal immigrants were rescued while eight still missing when a boat sank after being hit by waves off Teluk Ramunia, Pengerang near Kota Tinggi this morning.

The survivors, who were made up of 35 men, four women and two children, were rescued by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and the marine police, said a MMEA spokesman.

He said the incident occurred at about 5.20 am and the survivors were taken to Tanjung Pengelih and Sungai Rengit.