Illegals using aircraft navigation lights to reach Langkawi

Hundreds of Rohingya refugees who entered the country’s waters this month are believed to have used aircraft navigation lights on Gunung Mat Cincang here as a guide to reach the island.

Langkawi Region One Marine

Police Force commanding officer

Deputy Supt Rohizan Mohamad Said said the navigation lights helped illegal immigrants find land when they entered the country’s waters at night.

“Therefore, boat skippers who bring in undocumented immigrants will be looking for the navigation lights before landing on the coast.

“The navigation lights at the top of the mountain are very important because it shows pilots that the area is mountainous, besides having cable cars, thus avoiding any untoward incidents,” he said.

DSP Rohizan said the navigation lights would lead illegal immigrants to Teluk Nibong near a five-star hotel located off the coast.

Commenting on the discovery of the illegal immigrants, he said this was the second time they landed in the same bay.

“I understand that the illegal immigrants have been at sea for four months and the marine police received preliminary information from fishermen who spotted a suspicious-looking foreign vessel entering the country’s waters.

“Upon receiving the information, marine police tracked a boat and found some of the illegals jumping into the sea along with the skipper and swimming to the shore.”

On June 8, it was reported that 269 Rohingya trying to enter Langkawi’s waters were arrested by the authorities who also found the body of a woman on board the boat.