Hundreds of Rohingya Relocated, Kuala Muda Residents Sigh in Relief

KEPALA BATAS: Residents in the Pasar Bisik area of Kuala Muda, Penaga, here, felt relieved after hundreds of Rohingya ethnic individuals who rented in the area were removed by authorities last night.

They were taken out in three buses under tight police guard before being sent to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kuala Lumpur for further action.

A check of the village today found several rental units previously occupied by the ethnic group empty, making the area quiet and deserted.

Resident, Zarul Hisham Kamaruddin, 40s, said that although the ethnic group did not cause trouble, their increasing numbers, coupled with what he described as unreasonable demands on the government, caused residents to remain vigilant.

“The Rohingya issue is too heated now. Everywhere there must be them, and our people can no longer compromise.

“Around here, they really do not cause trouble, but residents feel disturbed, especially in terms of economic activities, because many of them also go down to the sea to become fishermen, creating competition for local residents who are making a living,” he said when met here today.

According to him, the ethnic group began entering the village little by little after the tsunami, before their numbers increased over the past two years.

It is understood that the number of houses rented by the community increased from 32 to 47 within two years, with each house occupied by between four and five families.

A food stall worker, Nazar Mat Akhir, 45, said some of them tried to run away because they refused to leave the area.

“Many did not want to leave here and cried. Some even tried to escape, but the police managed to control the situation.

“I really feel relieved when they left because their numbers were already too many. If it was not controlled, who knows what would happen.

“Before, they came little by little, but now they have started bringing relatives, friends, and then had children here,” he said.

Another resident who declined to be named hopes the District and Land Office takes action against homeowners who rent their residences to the Rohingya ethnic group.

He said most of the houses in the area were empty after the tsunami incident as many residents moved to houses provided by the government not far from there.

“However, there are still a few residents living here, and some have moved but did not want to leave their houses empty, so they rented them out to the Rohingya ethnic group,” he said.

Berita Harian