BANGKOK, May 17 — Thailand and Malaysia will extend joint border patrol to prevent misuse of forested areas by suspected human traffickers after hundreds of Rohingya migrants were found hiding in the jungle in Thai South earlier this month, reports Thai News Agency (TNA).

Lt Gen Prakarn Cholayuth, the 4th Army commander said after the Thai-Malaysian high-level committee meeting on Friday, that the two countries agreed to conduct joint border patrol in more locations as part of the policies to maintain order and to crack down on human trafficking.

The cooperation came after Rohingya migrants were found in the jungle in Songkhla after suspected human traffickers fled.

Lt Gen Prakarn said that the Thai authorities will provide further assistance to the starving and ill Rohingya migrants found in the forest.

Regarding a fishing boat packed with hundreds of Rohingya found adrift near Lipe Island in Thai South, he said that the Thai authorities had provided them with humanitarian assistance.

He also said that the setting up of a cooperation centre to help Rohingya migrants was currently being considered and that it was likely to be set up in a southern province. — Bernama