Rohingya boat arrives in Malaysia

A boat carrying dozens of Rohingya from Myanmar arrived in Malaysia on Tuesday and the refugees will be allowed to enter the country, but an expert played down fears of a new exodus.

It has been rare for Rohingya migrants to attempt the sea routes south since Thai authorities clamped down on regional trafficking networks in 2015, sparking a crisis across Southeast Asia as large numbers were abandoned at sea.

But there have been concerns desperate migrants might start taking to the high seas again after mainly Buddhist Myanmar launched a new crackdown last year that forced about 700,000 members of the stateless Muslim minority to flee to Bangladesh.

Malaysian authorities intercepted the Rohingya boat off the northwestern island of Langkawi, after it was first spotted at the weekend off Thailand, said navy chief Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.

"All 56 passengers, mostly children and women, are safe but tired and hungry," said the navy chief.

"We have provided them with water, food and other humanitarian assistance. The boat and its passengers will be handed over... to the immigration authorities."

The coastguard said there were 19 men, 17 women, 12 girls and eight boys on the boat.

The navy and coastguard had stepped up patrols around Langkawi -- where Rohingya have come ashore in the past -- after the boat was spotted of Thailand's west coast at the weekend and its passengers said they were trying to reach Malaysia. -AFP