Rohingya say landowner built and offered illegal flats in Sungai Tekali

Rohingya say landowner built and offered illegal flats in Sungai Tekali

KAJANG: Rohingya refugees who previously rented illegal flats in Sungai Tekali, Hulu Langat, claimed that the landowner had offered them the housing units since 2019.

They claimed the landlord rented out nearly 30 housing units at rates between RM400 and RM750 a month, depending on size and facilities provided.

However, the Rohingya refugees began leaving the premises after a raid under Op Kutip carried out by the Immigration Department and the district police headquarters on Feb 28 last year.

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One of them, Husain Abdullah, said the flats were built in stages in 2018 and were completed in 2019.

“The owner hired Indonesian and Vietnamese contract workers to build the flats at the front and back, resulting in about 25 to 30 housing units.

“Units were rented out at RM400, RM500, RM600 and RM750 to Rohingya residents, including myself, and the owner collected more than RM15,000 in monthly rental income.

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“We were also provided with free electricity and water by the owner, and I believe it may have been taken illegally from nearby sources,” he told Harian Metro.

He said residents in the surrounding area were aware of the existence of the flats occupied by foreigners, mainly from Myanmar, and knew the landowner.

“In 2014, the same landowner also built illegal housing next to the flats, but later demolished it after the current flats were completed,” he said.

Another Rohingya refugee, Abdullah Saidurahman, rejected claims that the landowner was unaware that foreigners were living in the flats.

“There were two units rented by locals, while other units were rented by Rohingya residents.

“However, after the large-scale operation in February last year, all Rohingya residents moved out to other nearby locations.

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“I want to clarify that it was the landowner himself who offered us the units, not subletting by other tenants,” he said.

He said his intention in revealing the matter was to correct claims that Rohingya residents had been subletting the units.

Husain and Abdullah were among 42 people detained in the joint operation last year.

They said no Rohingya residents remained in the flats after the operation, following warnings from authorities not to stay there.

However, after the operation, one food outlet continued operating at the premises, run by Rohingya people.

The shop, located on the ground floor of the flats, is believed to serve alcoholic drinks to customers and Myanmar food.

A check yesterday afternoon found no demolition works being carried out on the illegal flats, unlike the previous day.

Since media exposure of the issue, the area has drawn public attention, especially from Hulu Langat residents who visited to see the site, which has also gone viral over the past week.

In addition, red spray paint was seen on the ground floor of the flats bearing the words “Ini Malaysia” and “Hantar Balik”.