KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 ― The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) has stepped up patrol in areas bordering Thailand to prevent the illegal entry of the Uighur people who had escaped from an Immigration detention centre in southern Thailand into Malaysia.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said security measures were also taken by the army in the border areas of Kedah, Kelantan and Perak.

"We do no rule out the possibility of them (Uighur people) trying to sneak into the country and we have taken action by stepping up border  patrol , especially along the Thai border,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Mohamad Fuzi said PDRM would extend its full cooperation to the Thai authorities in sending back the Uighurs.

In the 2am (local time) yesterday, 20 Uighurs who were waiting for deportation escaped from a detention centre in Sadao, Songkla.

The Uighurs were believed to have fled into a nearby forest at the Malaysia-Thai border.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan wasreported to have said that five of the 20 Uighurs had been re-arrested. ― Bernama