Malaysia : Police detain 26 Myanmar nationals near Pulau Ketam

PORT KLANG, Sun: Marine Police in Selangor detained 26 illegal Myanmar nationals, believed to be seeking political asylum, off the Bagan Hailam waters near Pulau Ketam, Port Klang yesterday afternoon.

Port Klang Commanding officer DSP Norzaid Muhammad Said said all of them were found in a passenger ferry that was on its way from Sungai Lima, Pulau Ketam to Port Klang at about 6.30pm.

Norzaid said 21 of them were holding United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards issued by a neigbouring country, while the remaining five had no valid travel documents.

"Since the UNHCR card was issued by another country and not Malaysia, they cannot seek political asylum as provided for by the law. We have received information that the 26 had been earlier detained by the authorities in a neighbouring country but were siphoned out by a syndicate which used speed boats," he told reporters at his office here today.

Norzaid said upon arrival from their original destination, the Myanmar nationals, aged between 17 and 56, had stayed in Pulau Ketam for two days before continuing their journey. --BERNAMA