Melissa Darlyne Chow
A LEISURELY morning walk on a wooden pier in Langkawi, when the air is still but cool, will calm any frayed nerves.
But behind the beauty and tranquillity of it all, it is hard to believe that this popular tourist island was suddenly swamped by Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, believed to be human trafficking victims, just over a year ago.
The island found itself in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons then, when 1,158 Bangladeshis and Rohingyas from Myanmar landed illegally near Pasir Bedengung beach on the west side of the island.
It was followed by a massive crackdown by Thai authorities on human trafficking syndicates on the back of the discovery of 30 bodies buried in jungles in the south of the country.
The boatloads of Rohingyas — comprising men, women and children — became something of an unwanted burden to the islanders in one section of the island.
They were a pitiful sight — scrawny and lacking in nutrition.
But most of all, it was perhaps the pleading look in their eyes. A plea for a better life. A plea to be taken away from all their hardships and troubles that had, up to that point, characterised their lives.
And while the dust had not completely settled on that, a tragedy of a different magnitude struck the quiet town of Wang Kelian in Perlis.
The discovery of 139 graves in Bukit Wang Burma, containing what remained of Rohingya human trafficking victims, sent shockwaves around the world.
One can only imagine the agony the victims must have gone through as they approached the slow but ultimately sure death that awaited them.
The camps that became their last known home were not elaborate — just makeshift wooden structures, utensils and what not.
Their bodies were exhumed, examined and, subsequently, given a proper Muslim burial in Pokok Sena by the authorities.
Perhaps a final act of mercy for a battered group of people.
But what progress has been made since in the fight against this scourge?
Recently, four foreigners, who are illegals themselves, were charged with the smuggling of immigrants in Wang Kelian between 2014 and last year.
But are we just scratching the surface?
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently said security must be boosted to prevent the smuggling of goods and drugs and, more importantly, people. This is a stark reminder of how much more needs to be done to stop human trafficking.
The move to upgrade security fences on the Malaysia-Thai border is timely, if not long overdue.
Zahid had said the fences, built in the 1970s, were suitable then, but not so now.
Also, with a mere 100km of the more than 600km border fenced up, there is a dire need to close gaps in the barriers.
The authorities in Malaysia and Thailand need to think many steps ahead, as people smugglers are evolving with the times, aided with many technological advancements.
The incidents in Langkawi and Wang Kelian are proof that such activities can occur anywhere, anytime and without warning.
Combating human trafficking is no walk in the park. It will not disappear just because we wish it so. Nor is there a magic wand or spell that can rid the world of such activities.
A world that is borderless and well-connected has made things that much more complex. Greed does not help either.
Melissa Darlyne Chow is NST’s Kedah bureau chief. She runs for food, drinks coffee like it's water, and dreams of becoming a singer. Breaks into Korean songs at any opportunity she gets