PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) arrested 25 Myanmar nationals attempting to enter the country illegally by a fibreglass boat landing at the Kuala Muda beach early this morning.
Penang MMEA director Suffi Ramli said authorities were informed at 3.30am about a boat speeding suspiciously towards Kuala Muda, and immediately dispatched a patrol boat to the area.
“The patrol boat chased the fibreglass boat, which fled after dropping the Myanmar nationals on the beach,” he said in a statement.
Suffi said the Myanmar nationals, aged 12 to 42, were believed to be heading to a lorry arranged to transport them inland.
The case is being investigated under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1969/63 for lack of valid documentation, and Section 5(2) for entering or exiting the country through illegal routes, he said.