SEREMBAN: Concerns among residents regarding the influx of Rohingya residents in Taman Jujur, near Sikamat, here, nicknamed 'Kampung Rohingya' or 'Kampung Burma', ended when authorities raided the area last night.
It is understood that the Rohingya ethnic group has been residing in the area for the past 20 years, spanning three generations, thus creating a sense of unease among the local residents who feel increasingly threatened in terms of their safety.
Negri Sembilan Deputy Police Chief, Datuk Abd Khalid Othman, said in the operation that started at 10pm, they inspected 340 foreign residents living in the housing estate, comprising 335 Rohingya, three Indonesians, and two Bangladeshis.
"Following the inspections, we found that 24 Rohingya, consisting of 15 men, six women, and three children, had no identification documents, while the majority possessed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cards," he said when met after the operation ended.
Abd Khalid said three Indonesian men and two Bangladeshi men were also detained for offenses under Section 15 (1) (C) for overstaying.
"All those detained will be taken to the Senawang Immigration Enforcement Unit Office, nearby, for further examination before being sent to the Lenggeng Immigration Detention Depot.
"This integrated operation was conducted in collaboration with the Immigration Department and the Seremban City Council (MBS)," he said.
Commenting on the Rohingya influx in the area, Abd Khalid said the operation was carried out following complaints from residents who were uncomfortable with their presence.
"It is understood that they have been settling here since the 1990s, and to date, there are three generations of this ethnic group living here. Their mass gatherings have caused anxiety among the residents.
"This operation is also to detect any criminal activities, and the Immigration Department is simultaneously trying to track down any remnants of those who escaped in Bidor, Perak, recently," he said.
