Klang City Council initiates efforts to help refugees co-exist with locals

 

A gotong-royong programme initiated by the Klang City Council, brought refugees and locals together to clean up the Padang Sentosa field.

KLANG: Refugees should be seen as an integral part of the community to create peaceful coexistence, says the head of the community-based protection unit of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Dr Susheela Balasundram said the gotong-royong today, initiated by the Klang City Council (MPK), is important to enhance social cohesion between locals and refugees in the area.

“The long-term goal of such an initiative is for peaceful coexistence. It paints a picture that refugees are an integral part of the fabric of the community here,” she told FMT.

She added that it was imperative to use such an opportunity to bring two diverse groups, Malaysians and refugees, together.

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Dr Susheela Balasundram

“Instead of shunning refugees we are viewing them as a solution to cleaning up the area,” she said.

The gotong-royong at Padang Sentosa was attended by 90 people comprising 70 refugees, mostly Rohingya, and at least 20 residents.

Susheela pointed out that the refugees who attended the gotong-royong, comprised those staying in the area and some from other parts of Klang too.

“This is a partnership with several refugee communities. We have also enlisted the help of young refugees who were more than willing to participate,” she said.

However, she said the programme would not have been successful without the help of the residential committee and MPK.

MPK councillor Dr Quah Perng Fei told FMT that there was no previous engagement with the refugee community.

“Communication between locals and refugees is almost non-existent. That is why we must work to integrate them into our society,” he said.

He said that many refugees in the area use the field and this gotong-royong can act as a bridge of communication between the two groups.

“It is important for refugees and the local community to coexist. They might not be here for long, but as long as they are, we should try,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shafiullah, who founded the Refugee Academy and teaches there, said the refugee children were excited to participate in the community service.

“Some of them use this field a lot and they should learn how to help keep it clean and safe,” he said, adding that it is an opportunity for the children to also learn to adapt to Malaysian culture.

“We also want to show Malaysians that we can have a positive impact on society, and this is a great way to do it.” - FMT