The group, comprising nine men and 11 women, aged between two and 55, and from five families of Narathiwat, entered Malaysia through several illegal jetties here about 10pm on Thursday seeking protection from what they claimed as, "military pressure" in their country.

Bernama reported the group's excuses was almost the same as given by a group of 131 Thai Muslims, who had crossed into Malaysia in August.

A spokesman for the group, who declined to have his name published, claimed they were continuously harassed by the army who entered their houses at night and detained whoever they suspected as terrorists.

"The action is torturing the villagers who have been hoping for a better life after a new government was formed recently," he told Bernama when met at the banks of Sungai Golok Thursday night.

He said the villagers had expected the situation in the southern provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala to improve with the change in the government's administration but the worst was far from over.

He said since a month ago, the army always entered their village at night, allegedly looking for suspects.

According to Bernama, the army trespassed into our homes and arrested whoever they suspected as terrorists without checking. They took several members of my family and we do not know where they are now.

He claimed that the army under the new government was more aggressive.

He said he decided to leave his village and come to Malaysia for a safe and better life for his family.

A housewife, only known as Yah, 47, said her husband was arrested by the army about a month ago and she had never heard from him since.