Cops Nab 30 Rohingya Refugees In Waters Off Langkawi

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Thirty Rohingya refugees were detained in Langkawi, Kedah yesterday after their boat had sailed into the country’s waters.
They alleged, however, that they had no intentions to enter Malaysia, but had to do so as the boat had run out of fuel, said Kedah police chief, Commissioner Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad. 
“Preliminary investigations found that one of the illegal immigrants involved claimed that the boat they were in ran out of fuel.
“When asked, he said he did not want to enter Malaysia, but the reason given was because they ran out of fuel and so he had to seek land or approach Malaysian waters,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian. 
He said this at a Hari Raya event at his residence yesterday. 
Berita Harian reported that the incident occurred about 11.30am yesterday. 
The Langkawi Marine police were informed about a boat of 17 men, nine women and four children sailing into the country’s waters.
They were arrested and taken to the Bukit Malut Marine Police Jetty for further investigation. The case is being investigated under Section 63 of the Immigration Act 1963.
Wan Hassan said that investigations were still ongoing, adding that the police had to seek the help of Rohingya communities in Malaysia to communicate with the detainees, as they were unable to speak in Malay or English. 
He said that an order has been issued to tighten border security control to prevent more attempts of refugee smuggling into the country. - Mkini

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