ALERT: Malaysia Home Minister Confirms Mass Graves Found in Country’s North
Mass graves believed to contain bodies of hundreds of migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh have been found in Malaysia, local media reported said on Sunday.
Police discovered 30 large graves containing the remains of hundreds of people in two places in the northern state of Perlis, which borders Thailand, the Utusan Malaysia newspaper reported.
The Star newspaper reported on its website that nearly 100 bodies were found in one grave on Friday.
A police spokeswoman declined to comment saying a news conference on the issue would be held on Monday.
It was also not clear if the bodies were members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar known as Rohingyas, the official said.
Northern Malaysia is on a route for smugglers bringing people to Southeast Asia by boat from Myanmar, most of them Rohingyas, who say they are fleeing persecution, and people from Bangladesh seeking work. (With a report from AFP)