Kelantan tears down illegal Rohingya settlement on state land

 

The Kelantan state government demolished a building and three residential houses illegally occupied by ethnic Rohingya on state-owned land in Pechong here today. - Pic courtesy reader

KOTA BARU: The Kelantan state government demolished a building and three residential houses illegally occupied by ethnic Rohingya on state-owned land in Pechong here today.

The demolition operation, which began at 10.30am, was led by the Land and Mines Office and the Tanah Merah District and Land Office, with the participation of several other agencies.

Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee Chairman Hilmi Abdullah said the demolition was carried out after his office detected that the premises and residences had been built by irresponsible parties without authorisation.

He said the premises were subsequently rented out to ethnic Rohingya for a fee.

"Among the structures demolished were a building and three residential houses built without planning approval or written permission from the authorities.

"This action was taken to curb illegal encroachment on government land, as well as to address the issue of undocumented foreign nationals settling in the area and to prevent unlawful activities from taking place there," he said when contacted by Harian Metro.

He said the state government would continue to take firm, uncompromising action against any party found encroaching on, developing, or illegally renting out reserve and government land to foreign nationals. - NST