MACC to investigate involvement of two civil servants in Rohingya migrants smuggling case

SHAH ALAM - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will investigate the involvement of four local men including two civil servants suspected of smuggling in 119 Rohingya migrants in Sungai Kedah, Kedah recently.

Kedah MACC director Datuk Shaharom Nizam Abd Manap said the initial action that will be taken by the commission was to identify if there were any elements of corruption in the case.

"The MACC will take action if there were any evidences of corruption.

"We take this matter very seriously and this is a warning to all parties that there are traitors in the smuggling of migrants (activity) which can threaten the national security," he told Sinar Harian on Friday.

He also advised the public to provide MACC with any information related to the case. Sinar Harian reported that an attempt by four local men to smuggle in 119 Rohingya migrants into the country failed after they were arrested by the Kuala Kedah Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on Tuesday.

Kedah police chief Commissioner Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad said personnel from the MMEA who were patrolling the area had detected and detained a local fishing boat.

Upon inspection, the migrants were found hiding on the low deck of the boat.

They found 119 Rohingyas, 47 of whom were men, 32 women, 23 girls and 17 boys, aged five to 38 years old.

The locals were being investigated under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act (Atipsom) 2007 while the foreigners are being investigated under the Immigration Act 1959/63.