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Bagan Dalam residents unite to expel Rohingya
🇲🇾 Malaysia /Culture & Society

Bagan Dalam residents unite to expel Rohingya

From Utusan Malaysia · () Malay

Translated from Malay, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Residents of Bagan Dalam, Butterworth, are determined to remove Rohingya immigrants from their area starting in August, citing long-standing issues.
  • Concerns include cleanliness, with reports of Rohingya individuals keeping goats inside rented flats, and the increasing use of local Muslim cemeteries for their burials.
  • Local representatives, community leaders, and mosque officials plan a phased removal, beginning with public notices and memos, to ensure local residents are prioritized for burial plots.

Residents in Bagan Dalam, Butterworth, are mobilizing to ensure their neighborhood is free of Rohingya immigrants, a move they plan to implement starting in August. Mohamed Farzan Haja Muhaidin, chairman of the Sri Bagan Management Corporation, stated that issues attributed to the Rohingya presence have persisted for decades. He noted that the Rohingya population has grown, with some families establishing businesses and operating like locals.

"Disturbances are indeed present, although not widely reported," Mohamed Farzan said. "The main problem with the Rohingya here is cleanliness. There have been cases where they keep goats inside rented flats and leave them as they are." He added that previous attempts by residents to warn or expel the Rohingya have failed, as some parties have supported their continued stay.

Disturbances are indeed present, although not widely reported. The main problem with the Rohingya here is cleanliness. There have been cases where they keep goats inside rented flats and leave them as they are.

— Mohamed Farzan Haja MuhaidinThe chairman of the Sri Bagan Management Corporation describes issues attributed to Rohingya residents.

An estimated 200 Rohingya individuals currently reside in the apartment complex, with hundreds more believed to be living in surrounding areas, including nearby villages. Residents also express concern over the limited space in local Muslim cemeteries, which are increasingly being used for burials of foreign nationals, including Rohingya.

Sometimes we are puzzled. Whenever a death involves a foreigner, including the Rohingya, Bagan Dalam is chosen as the burial site even if their address is not here.

— Mohamed Farzan Haja MuhaidinThe chairman of the Sri Bagan Management Corporation expresses concern over local cemetery usage.

"Sometimes we are puzzled. Whenever a death involves a foreigner, including the Rohingya, Bagan Dalam is chosen as the burial site even if their address is not here," Mohamed Farzan stated. He confirmed that mosque officials are aware of the situation and that local residents will be prioritized for burial plots in Bagan Dalam moving forward.

Representatives from the residents' association, the Village Community Management Council (MPKK), and mosque officials have agreed to a phased removal of Rohingya from the area, with support from the local assemblyman's office. The initial steps involve displaying banners and issuing memos urging the Rohingya to relocate. "We have been lenient with them for a long time, and now is the time for us to be firm for the future of our children and grandchildren," Mohamed Farzan declared.

We have been lenient with them for a long time, and now is the time for us to be firm for the future of our children and grandchildren.

— Mohamed Farzan Haja MuhaidinThe chairman of the Sri Bagan Management Corporation states the residents' resolve.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Utusan Malaysia in Malay. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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