9,515 Rohingya Refugees Identified Across Hulu Langat, Selangor

Hulu Langat, Selangor, is home to 9,515 Rohingya refugees, with their population growing and shifting from rural to urban areas, according to Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari. He detailed the distribution during a state legislative assembly session, noting that rural areas like Beranang host between 20 to 30 refugees, while urban centers see significantly larger numbers. For instance, Kampung Sungai Sikamat has 400 refugees, Taman Kantan Permai has about 50, and areas in Cheras host 200 to 300. The situation escalates in Ampang, where Tasik Tambahan has nearly 2,000 refugees and Pandan Mewah has approximately 1,500, with other areas like Bandar Baru Ampang and Kosas housing around 300 each.

“

When entering municipalities like Kajang, the number increases to hundreds of people, such as in Kampung Sungai Sikamat there are 400 people, but in certain areas like Taman Kantan Permai, only around 50 people.

Amirudin was responding to a question from Datuk Johan Abd. Aziz, the State Assemblyman for Dusun Tua, regarding the presence of undocumented migrants and the Rohingya community in the district. This information follows a report in June where parts of a Rohingya settlement in Kampung Baru Sungai Makau were demolished, a process expected to take two weeks.

“

The number increases further when looking at other urban areas like Cheras, where the presence in a particular area is between 200 to 300. In Ampang, the number doubles, reaching thousands of people, such as in Tasik Tambahan, almost 2,000 people.

The state government is implementing an integrated approach with enforcement agencies, particularly from the federal government, to tackle these complex issues. Amirudin acknowledged that the presence of undocumented migrants and refugees is a multifaceted problem involving various jurisdictions. He emphasized the need for continued close cooperation between the state, federal agencies, local authorities, and district-level enforcement bodies. The state government remains committed to ensuring that the handling of undocumented migrants in Hulu Langat is orderly and effective, balancing enforcement, security, public order, and settlement considerations.

“

The state government is aware that the issue of undocumented migrants (PATI) including the refugee community is a complex issue involving various jurisdictions. Therefore, close cooperation between the state, federal agencies, local authorities (PBT), and enforcement agencies at the district level must continue to be strengthened.