Rohingya forced to swim ashore

New Straits Times

March 13, 2013

ILLEGAL ENTRY: The 184 foreigners, including 68 children, had arrived in a cramped fishing vessel 

ALOR STAR: A TOTAL of 184 Rohingya, including 68 children, from Myanmar were detained for illegal entry at Pantai Kuala Jerlun in Jerlun, near here, early yesterday. 

The foreigners had earlier arrived in a cramped fishing vessel, manned by several Myanmar nationals, before they were forced to swim to the shore about 7am. 

They had were also forced to wade through a muddy patch before reaching the shore. 

Most of the Rohingya foreigners, especially the children, appeared pale and weak when they landed on the beach. 

It was learnt that the foreigners had been on the boat for about 12 days before they arrived here. 

Villagers, who tipped off the presence of the foreigners to the authorities, took pity on the Rohingya refugees and offered them food and drinks. 

The foreigners were picked up by 50 enforcement and security personnel comprising policemen, Immigration Department enforcement officers, Rela volunteers and members of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. 

Shamsuddin Shafie, 38, said he was returning home from his fishing trip when he saw the refugees swimming to the shore. 

“My heart sank when I saw them trying to make it through the muddy beach.” 

State Immigration Department enforcement division chief Nar Aza man Ibrahim said the refugees would be placed at several immigration depots in the country. 

“However, two of the children would be sent to a protection house in Bukit Jalil since we could not locate their parents,” he said.