PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is ramping up its patrols in several areas in preparation of a probable influx of displaced Rohingya refugees fleeing the violence in Myanmar. MMEA director-general Admiral Datuk Zulkifili Abu Bakar said the agency would pay extra attention to the waters of Langkawi, Penang and areas near the Malaysia-Thailand border. He said this is being done to deter any illegal immigrants from encroaching the nation's waters. These ensuing clashes and a military counter-offensive had killed at least 400 people and triggered a mass exodus of over 160,000 people to neighbouring Bangladesh. Unites Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres had issued a warning of a looming humanitarian crisis in western Myanmar.

Source: New Strait Times September 08, 2017 13:30 UTC