KUALA LUMPUR: A village in Melaka is allegedly being used as a temporary transit point for Rohingya arrivals, with groups reportedly transported there in the early hours of the morning before being moved elsewhere, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) claimed that enforcement authorities had not taken information about the suspected activities seriously, raising concerns over possible unauthorised entry routes and weaknesses in border enforcement.
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“In my constituency, residents told me that vans arrive at around 3am to transport Rohingya individuals to a village. The area has become a transit point. They stay there for about a week before being transported elsewhere.
“When we provide such information, it appears that enforcement authorities do not take it seriously,” he said during the parliamentary debate.
Khoo questioned how Rohingya individuals continued to enter Malaysia despite ongoing efforts to repatriate Myanmar nationals, suggesting that unauthorised border crossings could be contributing to the situation.
“We have started sending Myanmar nationals back, but we must not allow a situation where we close the front door while the back door remains open.
“How are so many Rohingya entering our country? Why have the numbers increased so sharply? There must be illegal routes being used to enter Malaysia,” he said.
He also questioned the accountability of enforcement agencies responsible for safeguarding the country’s borders.
“Who should be held responsible for the smuggling of Rohingya into Malaysia? Surely, the agencies entrusted with protecting our borders must play a more important role,” he said.
Khoo further claimed that some Rohingya individuals in his constituency had sought representation on village development and security committees (JPKK) and requested separate prayer facilities.
He said their participation in morning market trading activities had also raised concerns among local residents.
“This could create many problems in the future. We can see these activities taking place, but why have they been allowed to continue until today?” he asked.
Khoo urged the government and relevant enforcement agencies to investigate the claims and pay closer attention to the situation, stressing the need for cooperation among all parties.
Separately, the Home Ministry (KDN) carried out the first phase of its voluntary repatriation programme involving 1,476 Myanmar nationals on Sept 29, as part of an agreement with Myanmar to facilitate the return of 5,000 detainees in stages.
The group comprised 1,370 men, 79 women, 20 boys and seven girls from 14 immigration detention depots nationwide. They were repatriated aboard three Myanmar naval vessels from the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut, Perak.
KDN said the individuals underwent identity verification, documentation and health screening before their return. The programme was intended to ease overcrowding and reduce operating costs at immigration detention facilities.
On Sept 30, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil announced that Myanmar had agreed to receive another 3,524 individuals under the programme’s second phase.
Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban subsequently said on Oct 6 that the authorities were awaiting feedback from Wisma Putra on further arrangements with Myanmar. The repatriation programme was expected to continue beyond the initial 5,000 individuals.