CHERAS: A Myanmar couple and their four-year-old child have sought shelter at a playground gazebo in Bandar Mahkota Cheras after being left homeless.
Several days earlier, authorities reportedly raided the Section 8 playground, where more than 10 foreign residents from Myanmar had constructed makeshift dwellings with mattresses, pillows, sofas, and cooking facilities.
A survey by Harian Metro found the family still residing in the playground.
Hau Lian Kim, 34, said that he, along with his wife and child, sleep there as they have no other place to stay. They have been in the playground for over two weeks.
"When the weather is good, we sleep in the forest next to this park, but if the weather is bad, like when it's raining, we sleep here in this park gazebo," he said when interviewed by Harian Metro reporters.
Hau said that he has been living in Malaysia for five years and is currently unemployed.
"But every day, a friend who works nearby will bring us food," he added.
During the recent raid at the playground, some of Hau's friends were reportedly detained by the authorities.
A Section 8 Bandar Mahkota Cheras resident, Siti Sarah Mohd Zainal Abidin, 35, suggested that the Myanmar residents chose the playground in her housing area because it is a secluded spot.
"That area is hidden. That's why many residents don't come to play there," she said.
She said that for the past five days, the playground has turned into a residence for foreign nationals from Myanmar.
"I went there at that time to bring my child to play on the swings. But now, it has become their residence, and the swings are being used to hang their clothes," she said. She also questioned why these foreigners can easily set up settlements in the playground.
"Why can they just establish settlements as they please? It's fortunate that we noticed. If we hadn't, it could have become a permanent residence. Because they've built huts, gathered wood, and even have roofs. They just haven't installed them yet. All the tools are ready. If we turn a blind eye, they will become bold and establish settlements," she said.
Another resident, Abd Faiz Abd Karim, 27, mentioned that the Myanmar nationals built huts in the playground using items discarded at the rubbish dump.
"They collect sofas, mattresses, and pillows discarded at the dump and use them. At night, the playground area is crowded with Myanmar nationals. They sleep there. They will find their own area to sleep, like next to a tree, and if it's comfortable, they sleep there," he said.
Surplus Selangor activist, Aemierulrizaki Rambli, 43, expressed concern that if such situations persist, the country will be destroyed by foreign residents. He added that they have received numerous complaints about the settlement of foreign residents, such as the one in Section 8 of Bandar Mahkota Cheras.
"Many complain to us, but we can't do anything. We can only come to expose and spread awareness," he said.
