ALOR SETAR – The Kedah Immigration Department arrested five Myanmar nationals, who are believed to have just entered the country through Thailand at the Hutan Kampung toll plaza near here last week.
State Deputy Director of Immigration Hasrina Hashim said the four men and one woman, aged between 18 and 30, were believed to have entered the country via the “rat route” in the forest covering the Kedah-Thailand border. They were in a car when they were stopped, and the driver failed to produceany legal document, she told reporters here.
“The car is believed to have been borrowed from a local. We think they [came] here looking for work,” Hasrina said. Hasrina said that they will be charged with entering the country illegally and could be jailed up to five years or fined not more than RM10,000 or both. The driver would also be charged with human trafficking, she said
Hasrina also said that a syndicate issuing National League For Democracy (Liberated Area) cards to Myanmar illegal immigrants was busted in a raid at Taman Mahsuri in Jitra near here last week. Hasrina said that 10 Myanmar nationals, including a woman, aged between 24 and 43 were detained. They did not have any passport or social visit pass.
“From the documents we found, we learned that they charged RM500 for each card,” she said. National League for Democracy is the political party resisting the military government in Myanmar. The clients of the syndicate apparently believed a national league membership card would strengthen their case for refugee status.
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Jimmy Tan
