Kelantan police have identified family ties as a major factor encouraging illegal migrants, including Rohingya, Bangladeshi and Myanmar nationals, to enter Malaysia through the Malaysia–Thailand border.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said many migrants view Malaysia as their final destination rather than Thailand, largely because they already have relatives or family members living in the country who can support them upon arrival.
He said this trend is especially prominent among the Rohingya community, who are often willing to take significant risks to enter Malaysia illegally due to established family networks here.
“The main reason is that they have family members or relatives who have long settled in this country and serve as a support system when they arrive here,” he said in a recent interview with Bernama.
He added that illegal crossings along the Malaysia–Thailand border remain a near-daily challenge for enforcement agencies, requiring continuous monitoring and enforcement operations.
According to him, most migrants use Thailand as a transit route before continuing their journey into Malaysia, while Thai authorities generally do not face issues if migrants do not remain in the country for long periods.
Yusoff said police have also identified Rohingya settlements in several areas in Kelantan, including Tanah Merah, but stressed that the situation remains under control and closely monitored.
He added that although immigration matters fall under the Immigration Department, police continue to play a supporting role in maintaining security and monitoring foreign communities.
He also said district police headquarters have been instructed to intensify operations against illegal migrants instead of relying solely on the General Operations Force.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently reminded Rohingya refugees in Malaysia to comply with local laws and regulations, warning that strict action would be taken against those who fail to do so.
