PETALING JAYA: Klang MP V Ganabatirau has dismissed an accusation by a migrant activist that he was being racist and xenophobic when he highlighted the presence of Rohingya traders at the Meru market.
Ganabatirau said he was merely relating the concerns of his constituents when he raised the matter in the Dewan Rakyat.
He said the presence of the Rohingya traders was not an issue but some of them had violated the law.
Among others, he said, the infringements included occupying lots that were reserved for traders under the B40 category and setting up stalls at parking lots or on pavements.
“I don’t hate them or oppose them,” he told FMT, adding that his party, DAP, had always championed the rights of foreign workers.
“I was merely voicing out the problems faced by local traders.
“Which was why I questioned whether enforcement officers were doing their job.”
On Monday, North-South Initiative (NSI) executive director Adrian Pereira slammed Ganabatirau’s statement as being “extremely racist and xenophobic”.
Pereira said this in response to Ganabatirau calling on the home ministry to take action against Rohingya traders operating stalls at the Meru market in Klang.
Ganabatirau also expressed fears that Meru would become Selayang 2, the wholesale market in Selangor, which had in the past become a hotbed for anti-immigrant rhetoric.
He advised foreigners, including the Rohingya, to apply for the relevant papers if they wanted to operate a business instead of “taking away” the job opportunities which had been set aside for underprivileged locals.
“If they (the foreigners) want to do business, they should abide by the law and get proper lots.” - FMT
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