IPOH: The sighting of an empty boat along the coast of a beach in Selekoh, Bagan Datuk, led police to the discovery of 60 illegals believed to be from Indonesia hiding at a palm oil plantation nearby.

       Perak police chief Comm Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri said police received information from the public on an empty boat at the coast of Bagan Sungai Tiang Darat at about 3.45am on Thursday (Dec 28),

       He added that those who reported the sighting claimed they believed that the boat was ferrying foreigners.

       “Based on that information, the police from the Hilir Perak district’s criminal investigation department, assisted by policemen from the Rungkup police station, Bidor’s Battalion 3 General Operation Force, and Kampung Acheh Marine police, headed to the location.

       “Upon checking the boat, there was no one inside the vessel.

       “However, further checks at a nearby palm oil plantation found 40 men and 20 women, believed to be Indonesians, hiding there,” he said.

       Comm Mohd Yusri said the illegal immigrants are aged between 20 and 64.

       StarPicks

       Coca-Cola introduces 100% recycled PET bottles for the first time in Malaysia

       He said the boat was on its way to Tanjung Balai in Indonesia when the vessel encountered a faulty engine.

       “The boat was left at the coast, and the illegals had to hide inside the plantation. Police also managed to arrest two local men aged 38 and 63 involved in the illegal activities,” he added.

       He said all the illegal immigrants and the two local men were taken to the Hilir Perak District police headquarters for further investigations.

       The case, he said, is being investigated under Section 55E of the Immigration Act 1959/63, as well as Section 6(1) (c) of the same Act.