121 Rohingya relocated from Penaga settlement to UNHCR office

 

Residential units near Pasar Bisik Kuala Muda, Penaga, Kepala Batas, which were rented to the Rohingya community, were left vacant after the group was instructed to leave by the authorities last night. PIC BY NSTP/ Nur Izzati Mohamad

KEPALA BATAS: A total of 121 Rohingya from a temporary settlement at a former tsunami site in Penaga here were voluntarily relocated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Seberang Prai Utara district police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Abdul Rahman said the relocation was prompted by economic competition and settlement issues following an increase in the Rohingya population in the area.

"The relocation was carried out voluntarily by the Rohingya community and was assisted and coordinated by the National Unity Department, the state government, the National Security Council, local community representatives and Rohingya representatives," he said in a statement.

Anuar said police monitored and coordinated the relocation process to ensure public safety and order were maintained.

He urged the public not to sensationalise the issue in a manner that could jeopardise public safety and security.

For enquiries, the public may contact Seberang Prai Utara district police headquarters' Internal Security and Public Order Division chief Deputy Superintendent Fakhruz Zaman Husin at 04-5762222.

The New Straits Times earlier reported that a mini Rohingya settlement of about 500 people in Kampung Kuala Muda here was vacated peacefully yesterday after villagers, authorities and the refugee community honoured a month-long agreement to relocate.

The relocation ended the presence of a close-knit Rohingya enclave that had gradually grown over the past decade in the fishing village, with some families having lived there for nearly 20 years.

Locals said the community had generally co-existed peacefully with residents and rarely caused problems.

However, concerns mounted in recent years as the settlement expanded from about 12 rented houses to 33, prompting villagers to seek a long-term solution.

Villagers said the issue gained urgency after the arrest of 25 newly arrived Rohingya migrants who allegedly landed near Pantai Kuala Muda about two months ago.

Although they stressed that the newcomers were not linked to disturbances in the village, the incident prompted residents to reassess the growing number of Rohingya living in the area.

According to residents, three meetings were held involving villagers, landlords, police and representatives from UNHCR, culminating in an agreement to give the community until July 26 to leave. - NST