KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 - Malaysia's coastguard announced a doubling of patrols in its waters to locate boats carrying undocumented Myanmar migrants, following the detention of almost 200 individuals on the resort island of Langkawi in the northwestern state of Kedah.

The coastguard reported that 196 undocumented migrants were apprehended after their boat arrived on Langkawi beach in the early hours of Friday. "Based on information received, there are two more boats carrying undocumented Myanmar migrants at sea, but their exact location remains unclear," the coastguard stated.

Director-General Mohd Rosli Abdullah specified that authorities are focusing patrols on northern waters and border areas, and have arranged for air surveillance to assist in locating the migrants. Additionally, they are coordinating with Thai authorities to monitor the movement of these boats.

Reports indicate that around 200 Rohingya refugees may have reached Langkawi, although the coastguard did not confirm whether the detained individuals are Rohingya. The Rohingya, primarily a Muslim minority from Myanmar, have been fleeing widespread persecution and violence.

Since August 2017, an estimated one million Rohingya have fled Myanmar due to military operations described by U.N. investigators as ethnic cleansing. The military junta in Myanmar has denied these allegations. Malaysia has historically been a destination for Rohingya escaping oppression; however, in recent years, the country has adopted a more stringent stance, turning away boats and detaining thousands of undocumented migrants.

Between 2010 and 2024, Malaysian authorities have detained 2,089 undocumented Myanmar migrants attempting to enter the country by sea, further highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis facing these individuals. For more details, visit Reuters or South China Morning Post.