Hundreds of Rohingya escape Malaysian detention centre

ABOUT 528 ethnic Rohingya refugees broke out of an immigration detention centre in Malaysia early Wednesday, with more than a hundred still at large, according to the Malaysian Immigration Department.

The detainees escaped by breaking down the doors and grills to their block at the Sungai Bakap Temporary Immigration Depot in Penang state, the department said in a statement on Wednesday. The incident occurred at 4.30am Wednesday following a riot in the centre.

Six of those who fled, including two children, died after they were hit by vehicles while trying to cross a highway, said Kedah state police chief Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad in a televised press conference. About 362 were re-arrested as of 10am as authorities continue their search and arrest operations.

There are no legislative or administrative provisions in place for dealing with refugees in Malaysia, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Malaysia. More than half of the refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Malaysia are Rohingya fleeing from Myanmar. BLOOMBERG