Kelantan police: Refugee activists must understand the law

KOTA BARU: Activists championing issues involving the Myanmar refugee community must understand the law and enforcement agency jurisdictions before taking action, Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said.

He said that although their actions might be well-intentioned, a lack of legal understanding could lead to complications, particularly when organised activities attract large crowds that are difficult to control.

"Their intentions may be good, but the real issue is ignorance of the law itself. These activist groups are ignorant of the law; they do not understand it," he said at a press conference after the Kelantan police monthly assembly here today.

He said managing Myanmar refugees was an ongoing issue discussed by the government for decades, requiring an appropriate approach to resolve.

Commenting on an investigation involving social media activists who organised an activity for the Myanmar refugee community, he said police were finalising investigation papers before referring them to the deputy public prosecutor.

Yusoff said the organisers, estimated at 14 to 16 people, had publicised the event on social media, drawing nearly 100 attendees.

He said the large crowd hindered control efforts, during which a robbery involving a member of the refugee community was reported, allegedly committed by an attendee.

He said police also seized mobile phones belonging to the individuals involved to assist investigation efforts.

In an unrelated matter, he noted a housebreaking case in Tanah Merah involving the loss of 12 wristwatches, adding that further details would be released later.

Yusoff urged the public to channel complaints to relevant agencies according to jurisdiction, including the Immigration Department for immigration matters and local authorities for business or premises offences.

He said there are 8,021 Myanmar refugees in the state, with police monitoring the community through intelligence operations across every district.