Rohingya News Agency (nst): A TOTAL of 184 Rohingya, in cluding 68 children, from  Myanmar were detained for  illegal entry at Pantai Kuala Jerlun  in Jerlun, near here, early yester day.

The foreigners had earlier arrived in a  cramped fishing vessel, manned by  several Myanmar nationals, before  they were forced to swim to the  shore about 7am.

  They had were also forced to wade through a mud dy patch before reaching the shore.

  Most of the Rohingyaforeigners, especially  the children, appeared pale and  weak when they landed on the  beach.

  It was learnt that the foreigners  had been on the boat for about 12  days before they arrived here.

  Villagers, who  tipped off the presence of the foreigners to the au thorities, took pity on the Rohingyarefugees  and offered them food and drinks.

  The foreigners were picked up by  50 enforcement and security per sonnel comprising policemen, Im migration Department enforcement  officers, Rela volunteers and mem bers of the Malaysian Maritime En forcement Agency.

Shamsuddin Shafie, 38, said he  was returning home from his fishing  trip when he saw the refugees swim ming to the shore.

  “My heart sank when I saw them  trying to make it through the muddy  beach.”

  State Immigration Department  enforcement division chief Nar Aza man Ibrahim said the refugees  would be placed at several immi gration depots in the country.

  “However, two of the children would be sent to a protection house in Bukit Jalil since we could not locate their parents,” he said.