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Straits Times
By OMAR AHMAD - March 11, 2024
The presence of a large group of Rohingyas in Kampung Kangkar Tebrau in Johor Baru has caused concern and anxiety among more than 200 families of the village. -NSTP/OMAR AHMAD
JOHOR BARU: The presence of a large group of Rohingyas in Kampung Kangkar Tebrau here has caused concern and anxiety among more than 200 families of the village, which is located in the middle of the city.
Retiree Abd Razak Tarmidi, 63, said the presence of Rohingyas was seen after the Movement Control Order (MCO), and their numbers have increased since, with an estimated more than 1,000 of them residing in the village.
He said the concern was over their unhygienic practices and allowing their young children to play in the streets without supervision.
"If you come to the front of our village, you won't see this group, they stay in the houses located at the back of the village, namely on Jalan Nyior 1, Jalan Nyior 2, Jalan Nyior 3, and Jalan Nyior 6.
He said the concern was over their unhygienic practices and allowing their young children to play in the streets without supervision.
"If you come to the front of our village, you won't see this group, they stay in the houses located at the back of the village, namely on Jalan Nyior 1, Jalan Nyior 2, Jalan Nyior 3, and Jalan Nyior 6.
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"Most of them rent houses that are no longer occupied because owners moved out due to frequent flash floods in this area.
"In one house, there isn't just one family living, but there are up to four families in one house.
"Every year, I conduct a census of the population to distribute aid during Ramadan and Syawal (month of Eid), so I know their numbers are increasing every year," he said when met in Kampung Kangkar Tebrau, here.
Resident Mohd Sabani Amir, 42, said cleanliness issues were a major concern because most of the Rohingyas in this area collect scrap metal as their job.
He said the leftover scrap metal that is sold would be piled up in several places, including beside houses, posing a risk of becoming mosquito breeding grounds.
"Some of their children litter on the roadside, we scold them but they keep doing it.
"Sometimes, right in front of them, they litter or play with used items on the roadside, we tell them to pick it up and throw it in the trash bin.
"When there's more of them, they become arrogant, and some of them even litter in the Tebrau River.
"As for safety, many of their children play unsupervised, especially in the evening and at night.
"Last Friday, a motorcycle accident involving a Rohingya child occurred here, and the blame was immediately put on the motorcycle rider, even though their child was littering on the road.
"Before the MCO, this area was populated by Bangladeshis and Nepalis, and we didn't mind because these workers from Bangladesh and Nepal didn't cause any disturbance and left when their work permits expired.
"But Rohingyas are different; the longer they stay, the more of them come. The village chief has made numerous complaints to the local authorities, the police, the Immigration Department, and MPs, but no action has been taken," he said, frustrated.
Meanwhile, technician Mohd Saifuddin Mohd Nasir, 37, described the Rohingya settlement in Kampung Kangkar Tebrau as "immune" and protected.
He questioned how the Rohingyas in this area could afford luxury cars like Honda, Toyota Hilux, Ford, and BMWs when they arrived as refugees.
"They (Rohingyas) here seem immune, some of them show their UNHCR Refugee Organisation cards, but we don't know if they're genuine or fake," he said.
A follow up with authorities will come soon as we await their comment.
"In one house, there isn't just one family living, but there are up to four families in one house.
"Every year, I conduct a census of the population to distribute aid during Ramadan and Syawal (month of Eid), so I know their numbers are increasing every year," he said when met in Kampung Kangkar Tebrau, here.
Resident Mohd Sabani Amir, 42, said cleanliness issues were a major concern because most of the Rohingyas in this area collect scrap metal as their job.
He said the leftover scrap metal that is sold would be piled up in several places, including beside houses, posing a risk of becoming mosquito breeding grounds.
"Some of their children litter on the roadside, we scold them but they keep doing it.
"Sometimes, right in front of them, they litter or play with used items on the roadside, we tell them to pick it up and throw it in the trash bin.
"When there's more of them, they become arrogant, and some of them even litter in the Tebrau River.
"As for safety, many of their children play unsupervised, especially in the evening and at night.
"Last Friday, a motorcycle accident involving a Rohingya child occurred here, and the blame was immediately put on the motorcycle rider, even though their child was littering on the road.
"Before the MCO, this area was populated by Bangladeshis and Nepalis, and we didn't mind because these workers from Bangladesh and Nepal didn't cause any disturbance and left when their work permits expired.
"But Rohingyas are different; the longer they stay, the more of them come. The village chief has made numerous complaints to the local authorities, the police, the Immigration Department, and MPs, but no action has been taken," he said, frustrated.
Meanwhile, technician Mohd Saifuddin Mohd Nasir, 37, described the Rohingya settlement in Kampung Kangkar Tebrau as "immune" and protected.
He questioned how the Rohingyas in this area could afford luxury cars like Honda, Toyota Hilux, Ford, and BMWs when they arrived as refugees.
"They (Rohingyas) here seem immune, some of them show their UNHCR Refugee Organisation cards, but we don't know if they're genuine or fake," he said.
A follow up with authorities will come soon as we await their comment.
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