Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysian authorities confirmed on Saturday that they turned away two boats carrying nearly 300 Rohingya refugees believed to have entered the country illegally. The Rohingya, a Muslim minority, were reportedly aiming to escape dire conditions and find a better life.

The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency disclosed that approximately 196 Rohingya landed on the beach of Langkawi early Friday and were detained by authorities. Following this, two other boats were detected later on Friday, also near Langkawi, with individuals on board facing exhaustion and a lack of food and water.

Maritime Enforcement Agency chief Mohamad Rosli Abdullah stated assistance was provided to these boats, which included essential supplies before they were escorted out of Malaysian waters. However, authorities did not disclose the intended destinations of the boats, leaving many questions unanswered about the plight of the refugees.

Malaysia has seen an influx of Rohingya refugees, with more than 1 million currently residing in Bangladesh after fleeing violence and persecution in Myanmar. The Malaysian government has historically opened its doors to some Rohingya; however, increasing concerns over a mass influx have led to stricter controls. As of November, around 111,410 Rohingya refugees were registered with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Malaysia, representing about 58% of the nation’s total refugee population.

While the issue of Rohingya refugees continues to raise humanitarian challenges, Malaysia remains a preferred destination due to its predominantly Malay Muslim population, despite the government's efforts to mitigate the increasing numbers resulting from the ongoing crisis.

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