DHAKA: Malaysia is pressing for an urgent discussion with Myanmar and Bangladesh over the large number of illegal immigrants coming to Langkawi, reports The Star Online.

According to Malaysia’s Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim, they had found elements of human trafficking over the unprecedented massive landing of the illegals.

As a step to ensure that the incidents were not repeated, Alwi said that Malaysia would call for a discussion with Bangladesh and Myanmar.

He added that Thailand would also be involved in the matter since the cases of trafficking of migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar were also through the Malaysia-Thailand border.

Nearly 2,000 migrants have been rescued or have swum to shore in Malaysia and Indonesia over the last few days.

Campaigners fear as many as 8,000 migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar – among them many from the Rohingya minority – are being held at sea with dwindling supplies after a Thai crackdown on trafficking curbed smuggling routes.

BDST: 1000 HRS, MAY 13, 2015
RS