NST Leader: Tough battle against people smuggling
THE reason why migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers desperately enter Malaysia by any means necessary is also why they attract human smugglers.
Migrant workers, refugees and asylum seekers are drawn to Malaysia by necessity, which in turn attracts human smugglers. The country's strategic location, dependence on migrant labor, and weaknesses in law enforcement and border control make it a prime target for criminal syndicates. The coastline, especially the Strait of Malacca, and the shared forest with Thailand provide numerous smuggling entry points.
Dense forests serve as ideal cover for refugees and migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh to enter Malaysia via Perlis, Kedah, Perak, and Kelantan. Stricter labor policies and costly work permits deter legal immigration, leading to the rise of smuggling operations. The United States Department of State's Trafficking in Persons Report has classified Malaysia as Tier 2, indicating that the country has yet to meet international standards to eliminate human trafficking.
Border control is handled by dedicated enforcement officers, whose efforts often go unnoticed by the public. Tragedies like the death of Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency sailor Mohd Roshaimi Mohd Ridzuan on October 27 highlight the crucial nature of their work. That day, Roshaimi and three colleagues were killed and injured when their patrol boat collided with a coastal seawall while pursuing an illegal migrant boat.
There have been other incidents, such as a boat carrying illegal immigrants colliding with an enforcement patrol boat, injuring two MMEA officers. MMEA officers have also survived machete attacks. These incidents demonstrate the dangerous nature of their night surveillance and sea chases against heavily armed rogue operators. While paying tribute to Roshaimi's sacrifice, it is essential to recognize the risks faced by the MMEA.
Instead of mourning, the best way to honor the fallen sailor is to provide adequate funds, resources, and intelligence for improved enforcement. Additionally, continuous spot checks at border checkpoints and visa-processing agencies, along with the removal and indictment of compromised border control officers, are necessary measures.
Employers should be required to pay fair wages to prevent migrant workers from accruing massive debts to third-party agents. Businesses that use unauthorized subcontractors or ignore illegal workforce must face punitive penalties. The deployment of drone patrols, thermal imaging, biometric tracking, and training enforcement officers to distinguish between deliberate illegal immigrants and coerced or deceived victims are crucial steps forward.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
