Malaysia to open illegal migrants talks with Bangladesh
Malaysia will soon hold a discussion with Bangladesh and Myanmar to find solutions to the influx of illegal immigrants from the two countries following the recent arrest of more than 1,000 of them in Langkawi, reports the Malaysian news agency Bernama.
Home Ministry (KDN) secretary-general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim said the ministry found elements of smuggling of migrants in the case, as the illegal immigrants, were willing to come to Malaysia.
Thailand would also be invited to the discussion as most cases of smuggling of migrants involving those from Myanmar and Bangladesh were done through the Malaysia-Thailand border, he said in a statement today.
A total of 1,158 illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar, including Rohingya Muslims, 993 of whom were men, 104 women and 61 children, were reported to have landed in Langkawi since May 10.
"Of the total, 486 were Myanmar nationals and 672 were Bangladesh nationals," he said.
In Alor Star, Kedah Immigration Department director Mohamad Yusri Hashim in a statement said 300 of the illegal immigrants were transported to Belantik Immigration Detention Depot in Sik.
They were taken on boats from Langkawi island to Kuala Kedah jetty before being transported by trucks to the depot.
Mohamad Yusri said they were detained under the Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act for not having valid travel documents.
The rest of the immigrants would also be transported to the depot in stages, he added.
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