(Gerhard Hoffstaedter, Antje Missbach, Chris Lewa, Erik Ramadhanil – The Interpreter) In November, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) launched a week-long rescue operation near the maritime border with Thailand after news emerged of a boat capsize. Fourteen Rohingya survivors were rescued and 36 bodies recovered at sea from an estimated 90 passengers aboard. Despite the many victims, this operation has been praised as a positive, life-saving intervention and it stands in stark contrast to Malaysia’s usual approach. In recent years, Malaysia has implemented pushback policies and delayed calls to conduct search-and-rescue operations. The November rescue was an exception: a rare moment when Rohingya became visible to regional authorities willing to rescue refugees in distress at sea. But here is the worrying question: what about all the other Rohingya boats?
Rohingya boats: Out of mind but still coming | Lowy Institute
