LANGKAWI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has escorted two boats carrying approximately 300 undocumented Myanmar migrants out of Langkawi waters after providing them with food and water supplies.
MMEA director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Rosli Abdullah said the agency located the boats two nautical miles southwest of Pulau Rebak, Langkawi, late yesterday evening.
He estimated that around 300 undocumented migrants were onboard the boats, many of whom appeared exhausted, likely due to a long journey without adequate food and water.
"The MMEA provided assistance, including food supplies and clean drinking water, before escorting the boats to border waters to continue their journey.
"We are also working closely with Thai enforcement authorities to gather additional information on the movements of these boats," he said in a statement.
Earlier today, NST reported a video circulating on social media, allegedly showing the MMEA intercepting two boats suspected of carrying Myanmar migrants in Langkawi waters.
This followed police arrests of 196 Rohingya migrants at Pantai Teluk Yu.
In the 10-second video, an MMEA patrol boat is seen anchored near two wooden boats packed with people.
Yesterday, Rosli stated that the agency had launched a search operation and intensified patrols to locate two boats carrying Myanmar migrants allegedly heading to Langkawi.
The operation came after police detained 196 Myanmar migrants who identified themselves as Rohingya.
The group had arrived after their boat ran aground at Pantai Teluk Yu, following a 10-day journey from Myanmar.
The detained migrants, comprising 68 men, 57 women, 32 boys, and 39 girls, were subsequently handed over to the Immigration Department.
Malaysia has experienced waves of Rohingya migrants since a military crackdown against the minority ethnic group began in Myanmar in 2017.
Between 2010 and last year, the MMEA and other enforcement agencies detained 2,089 Myanmar migrants and intercepted 18 vessels.