Malaysian authorities have released more than 100 Rohingya Muslim asylum seekers who were detained earlier this week. A police official stated on Wednesday that the group is being sent to various locations across the country.
The asylum seekers were detained on Monday after gathering outside the UN refugee agency's premises in Kuala Lumpur to seek assistance. The refugees claimed they had been driven out of their homes in the northern state of Penang by local residents.
The detentions occurred shortly before an announcement by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and comments from Mohamad Hasan. Meanwhile, the UN refugee agency is under pressure to impose stricter controls amid rising local backlash against the Rohingya.