KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has stepped up the preparedness of its maritime assets and radar monitoring as well as its air assets in international waters following reports of the arrival of a boat carrying 81 Rohingya refugees in Aceh, Indonesia yesterday.
The Defence Ministry’s National Task Force (NTF) said in a statement today that it would enhance surveillance to curb the smuggling of undocumented people into the country through routes along the west coast of the Malaysian peninsula.
“NTF will not compromise with syndicates and traitors involved in the smuggling of Rohingya refugees and (undocumented people) into the country. Strict action will be taken under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007.
“NTF together with 19 security and enforcement agencies will continue to carry out integrated operations to step up security at the country’s border(s) in curbing the entry of (undocumented people) as well as controlling the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia,” it said.
According to the statement, the NTF had received two reports of two boats departing from Cox’s Bazar camp, Bangladesh in February and April.
“NTF believes that the (arrival) in East Acheh is one of the ‘diversion’ tactics used by the syndicate to obscure their movement,” it said. – Bernama, June 5, 2021
