Malaysia is doubling patrols in its water to locate boats carrying unregistered Myanmar migrants following the detention of 200 illegal migrants in the state of Kedah.
According to coastguards, 196 unregistered migrants from Myanmar have been detained by the police on the Malaysian island of Langkawi. Police has also been alerted of the likelihood of the presence of two more boats carrying the migrants whose location is unidentified so far.
In the search operation, authorities are patrolling in the northern waters off Langkawi and border areas along with air surveillance to locate the boats. Thai authorities have also been contacted by Malaysia to locate these boats.
As per speculations, 200 Rohingyas, the Muslim minority of Myanmar are predicted to have landed in Langkawi. However, the Malaysian coastguards are yet to confirm.
Malaysia had been a preferred destination for fleeing Rohingyas since it does not recognize refugee status. However, in recent years it has enforced stricter measures on illegal migrants with the detention of 2089 illegal migrants between 2010 and 2024.
