Malaysia detains 196 Myanmar migrants, vows to double patrols

Coastguard contacts Thais after 200 Rohingya are reported on Langkawi

Malaysia has stepped up coastal patrols to search for migrant vessels from Myanmar around Langkawi that may already have passed through Thai waters. © Reuters

January 3, 2025 21:30 JST

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) -- Malaysia's coastguard said on Friday it was doubling patrols in its waters to locate boats carrying undocumented Myanmar migrants, after almost 200 were detained on an island in the northwestern Malaysian state of Kedah.

The coastguard said police had detained 196 undocumented Myanmar migrants in the early hours of Friday after their boat came ashore on a beach on the resort island of Langkawi.