MMEA to intensify monitoring in waters off Kedah

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) will intensify monitoring in the waters off Kedah in the last two months of this year to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants, particularly Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh, into this country.

Northern Region Maritime director First Admiral Tan Kok Kwee said three MMEA assets together with one asset belonging to the Royal Malaysian Navy would be deployed to carry out the monitoring.

"We have always been monitoring the waters off Kedah but in November and December, we will intensify the monitoring because last year the entry of Rohingya refugees into Langkawi was around the end of that year," he told reporters after attending the Maritime Friends with the Fishermen Community programme at Kuala Kangkong, here today.

A total of 1,158 Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants, including children and women landed in Langkawi in May last year, the largest number ever recorded in the country.

In another development, Tan advised all fishermen to prioritise their safety by wearing a life jacket whenever they go to sea to facilitate the MMEA in carrying out search and rescue operations in the event of untoward incidents.

He also urged the fishermen community to act as the eyes and ears of the MMEA and report any violation of the law. --BERNAMA