ALOR SETAR - The remains of 27 Rohingya victims from Myanmar who died in a boat capsize incident last year were laid to rest at the Kampung Tualang Islamic Cemetery near Pokok Sena today.
Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah said the remains of 13 men and 14 women who died in the tragic incident was recovered in Langkawi waters last year.
"The unfortunate incident involved a group of migrants attempting to enter the country's waters illegally.
All recovered bodies were sent to the Forensic Medicine Unit of Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital for identity verification, post-mortems, and forensic documentation. The management of the remains began at 10 pm yesterday and concluded at 7 am today.
All the bodies were safely buried starting from 7:30 am with full decorum and respect in accordance with Islamic rites, under the supervision of the Kedah Islamic Religious Council (Maik)," he said in a statement today.
He added that the burial arrangements were carried out through an integrated effort with several agencies, including the police, the hospital, Maik, the Kedah Islamic Religious Affairs Department, the Fire and Rescue Department, the Public Works Department, and the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia.
"Kedah police express their appreciation and gratitude to all government agencies and involved parties who demonstrated a high level of cooperation and commitment in ensuring everything was handled properly.
"The investigation into the cause of the incident, the entry route, and the masterminds behind this migrant smuggling activity is ongoing under Section 26A of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Atipsom)," he said.
Adzli further urged members of the public with any information to come forward to the nearest police station to assist with the investigation.
"The incident is a deeply heartbreaking tragedy and serves as a reminder of the risks and dangers faced by individuals involved in migrant smuggling activities through un-gazetted routes.
"The police will continue to strengthen law enforcement and security controls over national waters to ensure that the country's safety and sovereignty are always preserved," he said.
Last year, media outlets reported that approximately 290 to 300 undocumented migrants had boarded a vessel from Myanmar and were later transferred to a smaller boat upon reaching the Malaysia-Thailand border waters before the smaller boat capsized. - BERNAMA