KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian migrant workers who survived a deadly boat accident off Malaysia's west coast said they were tricked into paying high prices in their desperation to get home for Hari Raya Aidilfitri, reports said yesterday.

Twelve people died when the boat - believed to be carrying 130 people, mainly illegal migrants - sank early on Tuesday off Port Klang en route to Indonesia's Sumatra island, across the narrow Strait of Malacca.

Most of those aboard were racing to get home to celebrate the Muslim festival of Aidilfitri, marking the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

Most of the victims were women. One was pregnant.

Klang district police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop said all the dead were in their 20s. He said the boat had a capacity of 70 people but was overloaded.

All the victims did not carry any identification papers, he added.

'Police have detained six Indonesian men believed to be in charge of the barge for investigation. They are believed to be carrying out an illegal operation to ferry Indonesians in and out of Malaysia,' he said.

Survivors said they thought they were buying tickets for a legal ferry operating from a jetty on a nearby island after failing to get air tickets. Some said they paid up to RM500 (S$210) for tickets, according to reports.

They realised they had been cheated only after seeing the rickety wooden boat they were expected to board.

'I questioned the captain when I saw the boat because I had paid double the price of an air ticket and was being asked to board a barter trade boat. I was instead scolded,' said survivor Yusmairi Abas, 29.

'Finally, I got on the boat because I desperately wanted to get home. Now, like many others here, I have lost all my savings after years of working here,' he said, according to one newspaper.

Another survivor, foreman Mohamad Suprim, 43, said the boat was packed with about 130 passengers. Many were forced to sit on the sides and some were even standing.

Police said 125 people were saved in the search and rescue operation - 88 men, 32 women, four children and an eight-month-old infant.

The weather was good at the time of the incident, police said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK, BERNAMA