287 illegal immigrants, 28 tekongs arrested for encroachment

A total of 287 illegal immigrants and 28 ‘tekongs’ have been detained by the authorities in Operasi Benteng in several border areas across the country.

According to Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, they were all arrested while trying to illegally penetrate the country's border through rat trails.

"Operasi Benteng comprising of border enforcement agencies such as the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), the Malaysian Border Control Agency (AKSEM), the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) and the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) have arrested 287 illegal immigrants and 28 ‘tekongs’ for attempting to enter the country illegally.

"The detainees had tried to cross the country's borders along the West Coast of the Peninsula, the North Malaysia-Thailand border, the Sarawak-Indonesia border and the Sabah East Coast," he said in a press conference here today.

Ismail Sabri added that 29 illegal immigrants and three’tekongs’ who were trying to enter the country's borders were chased away by the authorities.

He said legal action would be taken against anyone trying to infiltrate the country's borders.