Malaysia to search for boat people

PM orders navy, coast guard to comb sea for stranded migrants in desperate need of help

Malaysia's prime minister said on Thursday he has ordered the navy and the coast guard to comb the sea to look for stranded migrants, the first country to announce it will search for the refugees in desperate need of help instead of waiting for them to wash up on Southeast Asia's shores.

As the region's migrant crisis enters its fourth week, it remains unclear how many vulnerable people are adrift at sea. Aid groups and the UN say there could be thousands, and time is running out to save them.