A man illegally crossed to Medan, Indonesia, to visit his pregnant second wife, and was apprehended by the Selangor Maritime Enforcement Agency while attempting to re-enter the country by sea.
According to reports from "Sin Chew Daily", the 46-year-old man was attempting to return by sea using a fiberglass speedboat when he was intercepted by the Selangor Maritime Enforcement Agency at about 12:30 am today (Tuesday), roughly 1.5 nautical miles southwest of Bagan Nahkoda Omar, Sabak Bernam, Selangor.
The man, who is the father of four, divulged that he met and married his second wife a year ago in Rawang, Selangor.
When questioned by maritime enforcement officers, the man truthfully revealed that he went to Medan, Indonesia, to see his second wife, who is five months pregnant.
"I had to take the 'backdoor' route because my passport was with my first wife, and she doesn’t know that I married a second wife, nor did she know I went to Indonesia."
"I took the boat (illegally crossed) over there (Medan) for four to five days, then returned here."
The man, who works as a truck driver, said that it was through his second wife’s introduction that he utilized the services of a smuggling syndicate agent to enter the country by sea.
He also complained that he paid 1,100 ringgit for the boat ride, but the conditions were very poor—departing from Tanjung Balai, Indonesia, at 5pm and only arriving at midnight.
In addition, Selangor Maritime Enforcement Agency Director Abdul Muhaimin stated at a press conference that after investigation, the fiberglass speedboat was found to be unregistered and piloted by a 36-year-old Myanmar national.
He said that there were a total of 26 Indonesian illegal immigrants on board, including 17 males (one of whom was a 5-year-old boy) and 9 females.
"There were also two local men on the vessel, believed to have returned to our country through illegal means."
"One of the local men did not have a passport on him; we are investigating the relationship between the two."
He added that the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency will not compromise on any cross-border crimes.
"We will continue to strengthen enforcement actions in our country’s waters."