Malaysia on Monday broadened its search for six people still missing after a boat carrying Chinese tourists capsized at the weekend.<br /><br /> Most of the 31 people on board survived after the catamaran sank in stormy seas off the coast of Borneo. But three Chinese passengers died. <br /><br /> Aircraft and ships – or ‘surface assets’ – are now being deployed more widely.<br /><br /> “We are going to comb the area together with our surface assets,” said Ahmad Puzi Ab Kahar, Director General of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).<br /><br /> “So, at the moment we have seven surface assets to come these waters. This combination of aircraft and surface ships and vessels…we hope we can find some result.”<br /><br /> Authorities were investigating whether the boat should have been used as a tourist vessel, <br />Kahar told reporters.<br /><br /> Military ships and aircraft were scouring an area of 2,400 square nautical miles of sea, the agency said, in a search hampered by strong winds and choppy waters.<br /><br /> Chinese President Xi Jinping has offered assistance and neighbouring Brunei deployed a helicopter and naval assets to help.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> Chinese Foreign Ministry asked Malaysia to maintain search, rescue effort for Chinese tourists in boat accident https://t.co/VUrXMqTLsa pic.twitter.com/0LnqtKBEhp— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) 30 janvier 2017<br /> <br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> The tragedy happened late on Saturday – the first day of the Chinese New Year holiday.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> <br /> Photo: REUTERS<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> The catamaran had been sailing from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah, to the tourist spot of Mengalum, Malaysian maritime officials said.<br /><br /> Two members of the three-strong crew were rescued and are reportedly being questioned by police.<br /><br /> Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called for a full investigation to determine the cause of the tragedy.<br /><br /> “However, at the moment we must concentrate fully on the search and rescue efforts for six more victims who have not yet been found,” he said in a statement.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br /> with Reuters<br />