By Anadolu staff
Malaysia will beef up its maritime borders after turning away nearly 300 Rohingya refugees, local media reported on Sunday.
The government in the state of Kedah, northwestern Malaysia, which borders Thailand, said security agencies will strengthen measures to prevent Langkawi's waters from being accessed by undocumented migrants, according to the New Straits Times.
"I hope no agency allows our waters to be breached," said Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, regional head of Kedah.
On Friday, Malaysian authorities detained 196 Rohingya refugees after their boat ran aground near Teluk Yu beach on the northeastern resort island in Langkawi.
On Saturday, Malaysian authorities turned away two boats carrying around 300 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.
The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency said the two boats were trying to enter after the first boat ran aground.
"I urge the agencies concerned to take this matter seriously. Langkawi has been targeted frequently, although there were no recent incidents until now," said Muhammad.
According to the UNHCR, as last November, there were over 192,000 refugees and asylum-seekers registered with the agency in Malaysia, including some 170,000 from Myanmar, including 111,410 Rohingya, 27,800 Chins, and 31,000 other ethnic groups from conflict-affected areas or fleeing persecution in Myanmar, which has been ruled by a coup regime since 2021.
*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid