Kuala Lumpur - Five people died and seven more are missing after a boat, believed to be ferrying illegal Indonesian migrants, capsized in waters off Malaysia's southern Johor state, reports said Wednesday.

Two survivors who were picked up by local police on a beach early Tuesday told authorities their boat was carrying 14 people from Batam, Indonesia, when it capsized, said district acting police chief Mohammad Shamsuddin.

"The small boat they were in was probably hit by strong waves as they were approaching land and capsized," Mohammad was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times daily.

He said the two did not have travel documents.

The bodies of five victims - two women, two men and a child - were discovered in fishing nets on Tuesday, the report said.

Mohammad said police and marine officials have yet to find the seven other passengers, four of whom are believed to be children.

Malaysia is home to millions of illegal migrants, most of whom are from neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines. (dpa)