On Sunday, Malaysian authorities initiated a search operation for 24 Rohingya refugees.
The refugees went missing after they tried to swim to the seashore from a boat off the island of Lankawi.
According to Malaysia’s coastguard, late on Saturday, 25 Rohingya refugees attempted to swim to Lankawi when their boat was near the west coast of the island. However, only one refugee made it to land.
The provincial director for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Mohd Zawawi Abdullah, stated that Malaysian authorities on Sunday sent out two boats and one aircraft to search an area of more than 100 square nautical miles.
“We have relayed information to other rescue agencies and local fishing communities and will also inform the Thai authorities … to assist in the search,” Zawawi said.
The Malaysian police detained the one refugee who managed to reach the seashore for questioning.
As of now, the police have not reported what happened to the boat that carried the refugees.
In June, 269 Rohingya were detained on arrival in Langkawi.