KUALA LUMPUR: Any proposal for Malaysia to negotiate with Thailand to allow security forces to pursue cross-border criminals into Thai waters is subject to international law and the sovereignty of that country, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Monday (Oct 26).
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said that while the government acknowledges the need to curb the smuggling of undocumented migrants in Langkawi and Kedah waters, all actions must strictly adhere to international conventions, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"Therefore, the primary approach is through mutual understanding on joint patrol operations and proactive coordinated measures within our respective territorial waters," he said during a Special Chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat.
He was replying to a question from Datuk Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi) on whether the government was prepared to negotiate with Thailand to permit Malaysian security forces to pursue cross-border criminals into Thai waters, similar to Malaysia's trilateral arrangement with the Philippines.
Mohd Suhaimi noted that Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) data revealed more than 1,000 undocumented migrants had been intercepted in Langkawi and Kedah waters since 2020 despite intensified patrols.
Mohd Suhaimi also asked whether the government had concrete plans to relocate residents from Bukit Malut to other areas, and questioned the effectiveness of measures taken to prosecute syndicate kingpins from Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Shamsul Anuar said that to dismantle migrant smuggling networks, the police work continuously with regional and international law enforcement agencies, including Interpol and ASEANAPOL, to track down syndicate leaders operating overseas.
At the same time, he said the government has intensified integrated operations, such as Ops Pasir and Ops Benteng, while bolstering maritime surveillance through the deployment of high-performance radar and drones in targeted areas.
"This is to prevent syndicates from shifting their modus operandi to alternative routes such as Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah, Yan, and Kuala Muda following tightened security in Langkawi," he said. – Bernama
