Malaysian authorities detained close to 200 migrants "believed to be Rohingya" from Myanmar on Friday after their boat ran aground on the northern resort island of Langkawi. The group, according to police, consists of 68 men, 57 women, 32 boys, and 39 girls.

"All detainees are believed to be from the Rohingya ethnic group, who are believed to have departed Myanmar by boat approximately 10 days ago," Langkawi police chief Shariman Ashari stated. The migrants have been handed over to the immigration department in Langkawi and have undergone health screenings, Shariman added.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) confirmed it has ramped up patrols to track boats transporting undocumented Myanmar migrants.

"Based on information received by the MMEA, there are two more boats carrying undocumented Myanmar migrants at sea but their exact location is still unknown," MMEA director-general Mohd Rosli Abdullah stated. "We are also in communication with Thai authorities to identify the movement of the boats carrying the migrants," he added.

The Rohingya, a persecuted ethnic group in Myanmar, have been fleeing violence and discrimination in their predominantly Buddhist homeland. Many seek refuge in Muslim-majority Malaysia or in camps in Bangladesh. However, their journeys are often perilous, involving months-long voyages by sea or attempts to cross Malaysia’s porous border with Thailand. Upon interception, they are frequently placed in detention centers that rights groups criticize for overcrowding and poor conditions.

Between 2010 and 2024, Malaysian enforcement agencies, including the MMEA, detained 2,089 undocumented migrants from Myanmar attempting to enter the country in 18 boats, according to Mohd Rosli.

BOB Post