Bukit Malut Needs a New Image Through Relocation and Restructuring

Plans to restructure and potentially relocate the Bukit Malut community, a project stalled for more than two decades, are being revisited as a crucial step to revitalize the area and reshape its public image.

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Restructuring the existing settlement, including rebranding the village, is among the recommendations to create a more positive image, enhance investor confidence, and boost tourism in the area.

Local authorities and security agencies are considering a comprehensive redevelopment plan for Bukit Malut. This includes reorganizing the current settlement, which comprises an estimated 800 land-based and 500 stilt houses. A key recommendation is to phase out stilt housing, deemed unsuitable for long-term development, and to prohibit new construction of such structures to prevent haphazard expansion.

Recent clarifications have addressed persistent rumors about Bukit Malut's demographics. Contrary to claims of it being a Rohingya settlement housing 15,000 individuals, official data indicates that the majority of Bukit Malut's approximately 5,500 residents belong to the Malay Islamic Kedah (MIK) community. A study by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) found that about 92.2 percent of residents possess Malaysian identity cards (MyKad).

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The rearrangement of the proposed area needs to be carried out in a planned manner, focusing on the relocation of stilt settlements which are considered no longer suitable for long-term development.

To bolster security and confidence, the establishment of a police post in Bukit Malut is also under consideration. Simultaneously, efforts to correct negative public perceptions of the area are a priority. Officials believe these measures will transform Bukit Malut from a place associated with various negative stereotypes into a well-organized, secure, and promising community ripe for development.

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This step is believed to be able to change the image of Bukit Malut from often being associated with various negative perceptions to a more organized, safe, and developable community.