LANGKAWI: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) has stepped up patrols in hotspot areas in the northern waters to keep boats ferrying Myanmar undocumented migrants from landing in Langkawi.
The agency said it had activated Op Guard 4.0 in anticipation of heightened activities to smuggle Rohingya migrants into Langkawi between December and March following the arrest of 196 undocumented Myanmar migrants in Pantai Teluk Yu here early on Friday.
"The contributing factor to the entry of Rohingya migrants into Langkawi is the island's strategic location in the northern Straits of Malacca, which is close to the Thailand border.
"Additionally, cyclonic winds from December to March create favourable conditions for boats carrying undocumented migrants from Myanmar to sail to Malaysia and neighbouring countries," MMEA said in a statement.
It added that under Op Guard 4.0, which runs until next month, MMEA is stepping up surveillance in hotspot areas using the Malaysian Sea Surveillance System (SWASLA) and aerial assets.
"The operation comprises multiple agencies, including the Royal Malaysian Navy, the marine police, and the Immigration Department." MMEA also denied suggestions that the early Friday incident was a breach of the nation's maritime security, stressing that data indicated the agency's readiness and frequent operations had effectively prevented intrusions by Myanmar migrants.
"There has been no breach of the country's waters, as data shows zero entry of undocumented migrants from Myanmar, specifically the Rohingya, into Malaysia, particularly in Langkawi waters between 2023 and last year.
"Through Op Guard Series 1, launched on Dec 26, 2022, up to Series 4, several attempts to intrude into the nation's waters, especially in Langkawi, have been successfully thwarted," it said.
However, MMEA acknowledged that Langkawi's geographic position, surrounded by numerous islands, makes it challenging for authorities to detect intrusions by undocumented Myanmar, compounded by the vastness of the maritime area.
"The modus operandi of boats ferrying Rohingya ethnic often by disguising themselves as local fishing boats and travelling between late at night and early morning.
"Nonetheless, the MMEA does not see these challenges as obstacles and has deployed maritime and aerial assets under Op Guard 4.0 to safeguard the maritime border from intrusion."
For the record, the last group of Rohingya migrants arrived in Langkawi on Dec 23, 2022, comprising 36 individuals in total.
On Sunday, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor urged security agencies to step up action to prevent breaches by undocumented migrants.
Early on Friday, police rounded up 196 undocumented Myanmar nationals, who claimed to be ethnic Rohingya, after their boat ran aground at Pantai Teluk Yu during the wee hours.
Following the incident, the MMEA launched an operation to locate two other boats suspected of ferrying about 300 Myanmar migrants.
It was later reported that the agency had located the boats and subsequently escorted them out of Langkawi waters after providing them with food and water supplies.