Human-trafficking victims laid to rest en masse

The remains of 21 human-trafficking victims have been laid to rest at the Kampung Tualang Muslim cemetery in Pokok Sena today.

The remains, believed to be Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and discovered at a holding camp in Wang Burma, Wang Kelian, Perlis, were buried en masse in a grave, beginning at 10am.

The burial ceremony was conducted by the Kedah Islamic Religious Council (JAIK), while the costs were borne entirely by the National Security Council (MKN).

The remaining 85 bodies would be buried in stages after their autopsies were completed by the Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah (HSB).

The autopsies on the 106 remains which were found in graves at human-trafficking camps at the Malaysia-Thailand border, concluded four main reasons that caused their deaths.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealed, among them included disease, starvation, torture and murder.

“The first remains that was found was a human skeleton in an enclosure left to die and believed to have been tortured,” Ahmad Zahid said in a press conference at the Parliament lobby.

Authorities will then carry out another burial after authorities were satisfied with the autopsy findings.

Meanwhile in a bid to strengthen security and curb human-trafficking activities, Ahmad Zahid said, the Malaysian government will propose a revamp of the border security treaty with neighbouring countries especially with Thailand.

This includes the border treaty through the General Border Committee (GBC) Malaysia-Thailand.

The government will also review the roles of the Anti-Smuggling Units (UPP) which consists of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Customs Department and Immigration Department so that their roles will be extended to the border security.

He said, this needs to be carried out and he will forward a proposal paper on the matter in the near future.