Ready to find migrant boats at sea

ALOR SETAR: Enforcement agencies in the northern region are all geared up to locate boats with illegal migrants in our waters, as directed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) Langkawi district enforcement chief Admiral Zulkarnanin Mohd Omar said they have not seen the stranded boats.

“So far none, but if we find any, we’ll provide them with humanitarian assistance.

“We are still conducting our patrols,” he said yesterday.

Kedah police chief Senior Deputy Comm Datuk Zamri Yahya said the police were on standby in preparation for any migrants arriving in the state, especially in Langkawi.

“We are ready to assist in terms of logistics, security and other aspects that are needed.

“We have adequate manpower for this operation,” he said, adding that a meeting with the district police chiefs and representatives from the National Security Council, Immigration Department, MMEA and Rela was held on Thursday.

Najib tweeted on Thursday that he had instructed the Royal Malaysian Navy and MMEA to conduct search and rescue efforts for Rohingya boats and prevent loss of life, prompting Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to retweet: “Our Navy is on it sir.”

Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar said four vessels would be deployed to Langkawi to bring aid in the form of food, drinks and clothing.

On May 10, 1,158 Bangladeshis and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, including women and children, landed illegally by boats in Langkawi, with the figures reported to be the largest ever to date.