KOTA KINABALU: A group of undocumented migrants attempted to sneak into the country by using fishing boats off Sabah’s northern Kudat district on Monday (April 29) evening.
However, after a tip-off, vessels belonging to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) intercepted the boats.
Kudat MMEA director Commander Maurice Grenville Abeyeratne said they managed to locate the boats with the help of their Sea Surveillance System (Swasla).
He said the first boat was found some 7.6 nautical miles from popular tourist spot Tanjung Simpang Mengayau, while the second one was found about 6.6 nautical miles from Kalutan Island, Balambangan.
“We suspect the boats were headed to Kota Kinabalu from Tawi-Tawi Island (in the southern Philippines),” he said at a press conference on Tuesday (April 30).
“Following a check, we found 43 people on board the two boats, including women and children, aged from two to 55.
“Of the total, we believe 35 Philippine citizens have dubious personal identification documents,” he said, adding that the remaining eight people on board were locals.
Abeyeratne said the case was investigated under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007 as well as the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Sabah Ports and Harbours Enactment 2002.
He urged the public – especially the maritime community in Kudat – to help the MMEA by reporting any criminal activity or incidents at sea by calling the Kudat operations centre at 088-611858.
The public may also reach the 24-hour Malaysian Emergency Response Services (MERS) 999 number, he added.
