Selangor MMEA detains 55 foreigners, including an infant, in two separate interceptions for attempting to illegally enter and leave Malaysia via maritime routes.
PORT KLANG: The Selangor Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained 55 foreign nationals, including an infant, in two separate boat interceptions.
The arrests were made early yesterday in the waters off Bagan Nakhoda Omar, Sabak Bernam.
Its director, Maritime Captain Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad Salleh, said the first boat was intercepted at 12.30 am on Jan 26.
The unregistered fibreglass boat was attempting to enter Malaysia from Tanjung Balai, Indonesia.
“Inspection revealed that it was operated by a 36-year-old Myanmar skipper,” he told a press conference today.
A total of 26 Indonesian nationals were on board, comprising 17 men, nine women, and a child.
Two local men, aged 46 and 49, were also detained on the same vessel.
They are believed to have exited and were attempting to re-enter the country illegally.
The second boat was intercepted around 2 am, about two nautical miles southwest of the same area.
This vessel, a pom-pom boat, was attempting to leave the country.
It was operated by a skipper and two crew members, all Indonesians aged between 22 and 32.
Further inspection found 24 illegal immigrants on board, 19 men and five women, as well as a three-month-old baby.
“All those detained failed to produce valid identification documents,” said Abdul Muhaimin.
The detainees and the seized boats were taken to the marine police jetty in Pulau Indah for further action.
The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (ATIPSOM) 2007.
Abdul Muhaimin said each individual aboard was believed to have been charged between RM1,500 and RM2,500 for the illegal journey.
The fee depended on gender and drop-off location.
He noted that since the beginning of the year, Selangor MMEA has detained more than 100 suspects, most of whom are illegal immigrants.
This indicates an increasing trend of boats attempting to cross the country’s maritime borders.
The increase may be linked to preparations for the upcoming Ramadan and Aidilfitri celebrations.
“Enforcement operations will therefore be intensified,” he stated.
“MMEA will not compromise with anyone involved in cross-border crimes and will continue to step up operations in Malaysian waters.”
He urged the public to channel information on maritime criminal activities to the Selangor MMEA operations centre at 013-6606652 or via the emergency hotline 999.
