Mass graves: ‘No Malaysians caught as all were foreigners’

DPM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says there was no compromise in the detention of suspects involved in the Wang Kelian mass graves discovered in 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says there was no compromise in the detention of those involved in the Wang Kelian mass graves discovered in 2015.

He added that no Malaysian agents had been detained as those involved were all foreigners.

“Why were no Malaysians accused? The ones who smuggled (the Rohingya into the country) were all foreigners.

“There is no compromise on crime,” he told Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang), adding that this was a trans-boundary matter and the agent involved had been taken to court.

Another four foreigners were also charged with human trafficking, he said.

“Please understand how I work. I am serious about the issue,” he said when winding up the debate on the Malaysian Border Security Agency Bill (2017), which was passed at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Santiago had asked why the police in Wang Kelian were not aware of the mass graves in which 106 Rohingya migrants had been buried.

“I was told the police barracks are near Wang Kelian,” the MP said.

He added that locals had informed the police about the presence of the Rohingya in the area, which meant that the police knew about the foreigners’ whereabouts.

“There are elements of money being received,” he said, adding that Malaysia was taking a “soft approach” against locals involved in the Wang Kelian issue.

Santiago said in Thailand, a five-star general had been taken to court to prevent such an incident from happening again.

“In Malaysia, we take the soft approach and we are blaming foreigners. The government has to be serious.”

Earlier, Santiago also asked for ways to ensure that enforcement officers would be corruption-free.

Dr Michael Jeyakumar (PSM-Sungai Siput) also urged the government to detain high-level officers involved in human smuggling.

The Malaysian Border Security Agency Bill (2017) is to prevent smuggling and other illegal activities at the country’s land borders.

The act seeks to establish the Malaysian Border Security Agency, which will comprise representatives from the police, Customs Department, Immigration Department, National Anti-Drug Agency, National Kenaf and Tobacco Board as well as other public officials.

The bill meanwhile provides full protection for informers in any civil or criminal proceedings.

Under the act, evidence from an agent provocateur will also be deemed credible. - FMT