THE issue of Rohingya refugees in Malaysia requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach involving multiple enforcement agencies as well as cooperation with neighbouring countries, says Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
He said the entry of Rohingya refugees into the country involves several layers of security control, beginning at sea and extending through multiple enforcement jurisdictions before reaching the police.
Ayob Khan explained that initial interception and maritime surveillance fall under the responsibility of agencies such as the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, while the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) typically becomes involved at the final stage when individuals are already onshore.
“If we want to address this issue, it must involve all parties because the route has many layers, and the police only act from a security perspective if they commit criminal offences,” he told reporters after attending a hospital visit programme in conjunction with the 219th Police Day commemoration at the Tunku Ampuan Besar Tuanku Aishah Rohani Hospital, UKM Specialist Children’s Hospital.
He also cited data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which recorded 219,472 cardholders in Malaysia as of April, including 128,200 Rohingya individuals.
Ayob Khan stressed that managing the issue effectively requires engagement across enforcement, humanitarian and diplomatic channels, given its cross-border and transnational nature.
On allegations of illegal migrant settlements being circulated on social media, he said police operations against undocumented migrants are carried out continuously and are not driven by public complaints or viral content alone.
He pointed to an enforcement operation in Sungai Tekali, Hulu Langat last year, where 42 individuals were detained, noting that details of the case had already been explained by the Kajang district police chief on June 9.
Addressing proposals to establish a Rohingya transit centre on an island near the Andaman Sea, he said the idea requires careful evaluation due to the complex logistical, financial and humanitarian implications involved.
“If such a transit centre is established, who will manage it and who will fund it? After screening, where will they be placed, and will any third country agree to accept them?” he said.
He further warned that the creation of such facilities could unintentionally encourage human trafficking syndicates by creating a perceived “pull factor” for irregular migration routes, complicating enforcement efforts in the long term. - June 11, 2026
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