Langkawi: A total of 1,333 illegal immigrants, including Myanmar's Rohingya ethnic group, attempting to enter Malaysia via the waters of Langkawi and Kedah have been intercepted since 2020.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, data released by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) revealed that all these arrests were linked to nine cases, during which 24 skippers and crew members were also detained over the same period.

Most of the migrants and boat operators or crew were apprehended in the waters near Langkawi and Kuala Kedah while attempting to land in the country. The data further indicated that this year alone, two cases involved the arrest of 436 migrants at Pantai Teluk Yu and the waters of Pulau Rebak Besar, Langkawi.

Kedah and Perlis MMEA director First Admiral Romli Mustafa explained that Langkawi's proximity, only 2.5 nautical miles from the Thai border, makes it a favored landing point. "So, to reach Malaysia, they first arrive at Langkawi, as it is the closest point. They are not coming to Langkawi to remain here but will be taken to other parts of the country," he told reporters.

He added that many migrants attempting to enter Malaysia via sea routes do so in search of a better life, despite the dangerous journeys. "This is likely due to the hardships they face in their home countries, which compel them to flee and attempt to enter Malaysia, even if it means risking the sea without safety protection and paying syndicates," Romli stated.

Romli also noted that the attempts to enter the country by sea largely depend on weather conditions. "Therefore, most cases occur at the end and beginning of the year. Due to this trend, we have deployed Op Guard since 2022. Whenever we receive information on migrant entries, we launch the operation immediately. This year, we launched Op Guard 5.0. During this operation, migrant entry cases occurred, and we were prepared and able to act swiftly," he said.