KLANG, Jan 31 — An attempt by 78 undocumented immigrants to enter Malaysia by sea was foiled when they were arrested by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in Selangor during an early morning operation yesterday.
All 78 detainees aged 14 to 60, comprising 77 Indonesians and one Bangladeshi, were found aboard a pump boat three nautical miles southwest of Sungai Air Tawar, Bagan Nakhoda Omar.
Selangor MMEA deputy director of operations Mohd Fairusnizam Abdul Razak said the arrests, made around 3.30am, followed intelligence on a boat departing Batu Bara fishing jetty in Indonesia that was suspected of carrying undocumented immigrants into Malaysia.
“During the raid, we found a group of undocumented immigrants crammed into a boat meant for cargo, with 49 men and 29 women attempting to enter Malaysia illegally.
“During the operation, a man believed to be the boat’s skipper escaped by jumping into the sea. Initial investigations revealed all detainees departed from Indonesia at 8pm and had paid between RM1,500 and RM2,500,” he said at a press conference at the Selangor MMEA headquarters here today.
The case is being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63 for entering and exiting the country via unauthorised routes without valid documents, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (ATIPSOM).
“We will continue to enhance operations and enforcement in national waters in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for all enforcement agencies to fulfil their duties and responsibilities," Fairusnizam said.
“Efforts will not only focus on preventing illegal entry or exit of undocumented immigrants, but we will also intensify actions against all forms of cross-border crime, including smuggling, human trafficking, and organised criminal activities at sea."
Meanwhile, one of the detainees, Mahmud, 31, said he entered Malaysia by sea to return to work at a frozen food factory in Johor.
“I returned to Bangladesh in November and went to Medan to get married last December. My wife handled all the payments, paying 5 million rupiah (RM1,170),” he said.
