14/06/2026

NATIONAL 5 theSun on Sunday JUNE 14, 2026

Family ties draw illegal migrants into Malaysia

13 remanded over armed clash in North Jinjang KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 13 local men were arrested for allegedly taking part in a riot and group fight involving weapons at a business premises in North Jinjang. Sentul police chief ACP Basri Sagoni said the suspects, aged between 18 and 51, were detained within 12 hours of the incident through a series of raids carried out around the capital. He said the Sentul police headquarters district control centre received a MERS 999 emergency call from a member of the public at 3.27pm on Friday to report the incident. “Acting on the information, a police team was deployed to the location to bring the situation under control. Preliminary investigations found that the incident is believed to have stemmed from a debt related dispute before escalating into a fight that left one person injured.” Basri said the arrests were carried out by the Sentul police criminal investigation division (CID) with the assistance of the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters CID. He added that checks showed several suspects had criminal and drug related records. “All suspects have been remanded for seven days until June 18 to assist investigations under Section 148 of the Penal Code for rioting with weapons and Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt using dangerous weapons or instruments.” Basri said police viewed seriously any form of violence or unlawful conduct that threatened public order. He urged anyone with information on the incident to contact the Sentul IPD operations room at 03-4048 2222 or the nearest police station. – Bernama Suspects sought over luxury handbags theft PUTRAJAYA: Police are tracking down three suspects believed to be involved in a break-in at a luxury handbag outlet at a shopping complex in Cyberjaya, resulting in losses exceeding RM90,000. Sepang police chief ACP Norhizam Bahaman said police received a report on the incident at about 12.30pm on Friday from the owner of the premises. “Checks on closed-circuit television footage revealed three masked suspects dressed in black entering the premises before ransacking the outlet and taking handbags displayed on the shelves,“ he said in a statement. He added that preliminary investigations at the scene found the suspects are believed to have gained entry by prising open a toilet window. Norhizam said the case is being investigated under Section 457 of the Penal Code for housebreaking, which carries a penalty of up to five years’ imprisonment and a fine. The prison term may be extended to 14 years if the offence was committed with the intent to steal. The incident has also been widely shared online and attracted public attention, he said, adding that police are actively tracking down the suspects and attempting to recover the stolen items. Norhizam urged anyone with information to contact the nearest police station or the investigating officer, Sgt Mohd Faizal Rashid@Jaafar, at 013-2222 652. – Bernama

extended periods. On the presence of Rohingya communities in Kelantan, he said settlements have been identified in several locations, including Tanah Merah. However, he stressed the situation remained under control and was being closely monitored by the authorities. Although migrant-related matters generally fall under the jurisdiction of the Immigration Department, police continue to play a role in maintaining security and monitoring foreign communities in the state. “This monitoring is important to ensure any criminal elements or social problems can be prevented and do not affect public safety and order.” On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim reminded Rohingya refugees in the country to comply with local laws and regulations, or face stern action. He said while Malaysia adopts a humanitarian approach, the group must still comply with the country’s laws, including regulations governing the use of premises and business operations.

Police say relatives already here remain key pull factor, providing support for undocumented kin upon arrival

KOTA BHARU: Family ties have been identified as a key factor attracting illegal migrants, including Rohingya as well as Bangladeshi and Myanmar nationals, to enter Malaysia through the Malaysia-Thai border. Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said many such individuals set Malaysia as their final destination rather than Thailand because they have family members or relatives here who could provide support upon arrival. He said the factor was particularly significant among the Rohingya community, many of whom were willing to take considerable risks to enter the country illegally. “Malaysia is their final destination. 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. “For the Rohingya in particular, these

family ties play a major role in their decision to enter Malaysia,” he told Bernama. Mohd Yusoff said illegal entry through the Malaysia-Thai border remains a challenge for enforcement agencies. As such, he has directed all district police headquarters in Kelantan to intensify operations against illegal migrants and not rely solely on the General Operations Force. “I have issued firm instructions to all (district police) across Kelantan to carry out continuous operations, particularly against migrants entering through Thailand,” he said. Based on police observations, most migrants use Thailand as a transit point before continuing their journey to Malaysia. Mohd Yusoff said Thai authorities generally do not face problems involving large numbers of migrants as long as they do not remain in the country for

Mohd Yusoff said Thai authorities do not face problems involving large numbers of migrants as long as they do not remain in the country for long periods. – MASRY CHE ANI/THESUN

80% of child sex cases involve trusted individuals: Cops

period and may involve multiple victims because of their easy access to children. “Investigations into such cases often involve more than one victim. In some instances, investigators found that perpetrators used gifts and other items to gain the trust of victims and approach them.” Apart from physical threats, she highlighted a sharp increase in sexual crimes committed through digital platforms, including TikTok, Instagram, Telegram and online gaming platforms. She urged parents to understand the key steps needed to preserve digital evidence before lodging a police report.

“The high level of trust and continuous access given to perpetrators are often the main factors that allow such abuse to occur undetected,“ she told Bernama. Siti Kamsiah said D11 had investigated a case this year involving a teacher suspected of sexually abusing several primary school pupils, with similar cases also detected in other states. The increasing number of cases involving people close to children, including educators, has raised concerns about child safety in schools, she said, adding that such individuals are expected to be protectors. According to her, grooming by such offenders often takes place over an extended

KUALA LUMPUR: The nature of threats faced by children in Malaysia has changed significantly, with more than 80% of sexual crime cases involving suspects known to or trusted by the victims. Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11) principal assistant director SAC Siti Kamsiah Hassan said the greatest threat no longer comes from strangers but from people within a child’s immediate circle, including family members, teachers, carers and other trusted individuals. She said society must move beyond the traditional focus on stranger danger and recognise the risks posed by trusted persons.