KOTA BARU: About 600 fishermen operating along the Kelantan River and the state's coastal waters up to Kuala Besar have faced threats and intimidation from migrant smuggling syndicates since May.
The fishermen, who are among the 1,000 members of the Kota Baru Area Fishermen's Association, are increasingly worried about their safety, especially when venturing out at night to catch fish and prawns.
Association board chairman Nik Mohd Kamal Husin said the presence of syndicates smuggling undocumented migrants through the Kelantan River had become a serious security concern.
He said incidents involving the syndicates had occurred many times, with fishermen caught in dangerous situations while carrying out their daily activities.
