The survivors of last week’s boat tragedy near the Malaysia-Thailand maritime border are being questioned to determine their origins, travel route, and the total number of passengers on board, says home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
Saifuddin said police are also investigating whether the journey was organised by human trafficking or smuggling syndicates.
“This includes identifying the agents involved and where they operate,” he said after witnessing the search-and-rescue operation in Langkawi today.
Saifuddin said the incident was not an isolated one, but part of instability and humanitarian challenges in neighbouring countries which had become push factors for migrants to seek safety elsewhere.
He said all 34 victims recovered found so far – 14 alive and 20 dead – were Myanmar nationals, believed to include Rohingya and other ethnic groups.
Saifuddin also said Langkawi remained a key landing point for irregular migrants, with 217 landings recorded this year compared with just 11 in 2023.
He said he had directed the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), the marine police and the navy to increase their patrols and readiness along Malaysia’s northern maritime border.
Separately, he said MMEA would receive four new helicopters from Italy next year, along with new ships – one under construction and five more planned – and drones, and radar systems.
“These upgrades are part of our continuous effort to enhance maritime surveillance and protect our borders,” he said.
On Monday, police said some of the migrants rescued in the tragedy may have been linked to trafficking syndicates, with each reportedly paying around RM13,600 to agents in Myanmar.
