KUALA LUMPUR: The use of 'rat lanes' to sneak into Malaysia via land access and waterways are now more than ever a cause for concern.
Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said 84 people were arrested for trespassing into the country through these notorious lanes.
"What is worrying about the illegal immigrants now is that there are people who are crossing into Malaysia using these lanes."
Ismail said for now, the authorities had identified all existing routes, be they in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah's shoreline or the inland routes from Sarawak.
The next move, he said, was to tighten and intensify enforcement in the area by utilising the resources of the agencies involved.
"We are stepping up control in these areas as we do not want a viral outbreak from a rat lane cluster. All agencies have been told to redouble efforts at these lanes," he said during the government security update for the MCO here today.