Study: 92.2% of Bukit Malut residents are Malaysians, refuting Rohingya settlement claims

A recent study by Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) has provided clarity on the demographic makeup of Bukit Malut, Langkawi, revealing that 92.2% of its over 5,500 residents are Malaysian citizens possessing valid MyKad identity cards. This finding directly challenges previous assertions that the area is an illegal settlement for approximately 15,000 Rohingya ethnic individuals.

The research, led by Associate Professor Dr. Mohd. Na’eim Ajis from UUM's College of Law, Government and International Studies, indicates that the majority of Bukit Malut's inhabitants belong to the Malay-Muslim Kedah (MIK) community. This group has historical connections to Islamic communities in Myanmar, with some members having migrated to Myanmar during World War II before returning to settle in Langkawi in the 1980s.

Dr. Ajis stated that the perception of Bukit Malut as a Rohingya settlement or a landing point for their refugees is inaccurate. He explained that the area's history is intertwined with the Japanese occupation between 1942 and 1945, during which thousands from Malaya, including Kedah, were forced into labor for the Burma Railway. After the war, some settled in Ranong, near the Thailand-Myanmar border, before being repatriated to Langkawi in the 1980s through federal and state initiatives based on humanitarian considerations.

Addressing the persistent issues surrounding Bukit Malut, Dr. Ajis stressed that solutions should extend beyond resettlement strategies. He called for a robust public communication strategy to correct public perception, emphasizing the need to transform Bukit Malut's image from one associated with crime to a more positive one, based on factual information from authorities. He suggested that universities, government agencies, and the media collaborate on community programs to showcase the reality of Bukit Malut to the outside world.

The community in Bukit Malut possesses significant potential, particularly in fisheries and human capital development, which warrants further empowerment through various development programs. Previously, Bukit Malut was frequently linked to Rohingya settlements and alleged drug trafficking activities in Langkawi. Additionally, the settlement's existence on government, private company, and private land, including that owned by Permodalan Kedah Berhad (PKB), had been controversial. In June 2022, PKB initiated action by demolishing 41 illegally built houses on 16.19 hectares of its land, though no further action followed.

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Ramai menganggap Bukit Malut ialah penempatan Rohingya atau lokasi pendaratan pelarian etnik itu. Tanggapan tersebut tidak tepat.