Government Determined to Take Stern Action Against Migrant Smuggling Syndicates – PM Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is determined to take stern action against the masterminds and syndicates involved in migrant smuggling, as well as any parties protecting or collaborating with them, following the death of a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officer while on duty.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the safety of enforcement personnel and national sovereignty must not be compromised, stressing that all enforcement agencies must act firmly and without compromise against any attempts to breach the country’s borders.

He said this in a Facebook post following the death of MMEA Intelligence Unit officer Senior Maritime Petty Officer (Technical) Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan, who lost his life while carrying out his duties to prevent the entry of undocumented migrants into the country shortly after midnight.

“I am deeply saddened by his passing and disappointed by the actions of those who threaten the country’s security and sovereignty. We cannot allow this sacrifice to be in vain.

“All enforcement agencies must act firmly and without compromise against attempts to breach the country’s borders,” he said.

Anwar said the government and all security forces were also determined to ensure that the masterminds and syndicates involved in migrant smuggling, along with those protecting or collaborating in such activities, were brought to justice.

He also stressed that those who betray the country by allowing its sovereignty to be violated must be held accountable for their actions.

In the same post, Anwar and his wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, extended their condolences to the family of the deceased and the entire MMEA community, which had lost a fellow officer in the defence of the nation’s maritime security.

The Prime Minister also prayed that Allah SWT would forgive the deceased, shower His mercy upon his soul and grant him a place among the faithful and righteous.

Mohd Roshaimi, 41, was involved in an incident in which a patrol boat struck a coastal wall at Sungai Padang, Perlis, while he was carrying out his duties to prevent undocumented migrants from entering the country.

In the incident, which occurred at 12.30am, the father of two was confirmed dead, while three other MMEA personnel were reportedly injured after they were believed to have been thrown from the boat they were travelling in.

The incident is believed to have occurred while the officers were pursuing a boat suspected of carrying nine undocumented migrants from Myanmar, before their patrol boat reportedly struck a wall along the Sungai Padang coastline.

BERNAMA