KUALA LUMPUR: In some areas in the country, the number of Rohingya people will steadily increase within a few years from a mere 10 people to become 'colonies' made of hundreds of them.
Hailing from from Rakhine, Myanmar, they will arrive in Malaysia as refugees or asylum seekers.
Some people say they are taking over a lot of daily affairs including business activities from the locals.
While some earn a living as farmers, labourers or scrap metal collectors, many of them are running their own businesses such as sundry shops, as well as suppliers for daily necessities or became subcontractors.
Their presence in a certain area or village becomes a 'magnet' to other foreigners, including those from Bangladesh.
In Johor, about 300 Rohingya people have settled down in Kampung Telok Serdang, Perling, and 1,200 others live in Kampung Kangkar Tebrau, Johor Baru.
Meanwhile, in Kelantan over 200 Rohingya refugees are living in Kampung Kubang Tin and over 150 people in Kampung Melor Lama.
In Kampung Telok Serdang and Kampung Kangkar Tebrau, the Rohingyas outnumber the locals, raising concern over the surge of foreigners that could lead to various social ills and crimes.
Kampung Telok Serdang village head Azman Mudin said only about 15 to 20 Rohingya people were renting houses there in 2008, but there is now a larger group, compared to the 200 locals living there.
"They started with renting for a small group with families, but after seeing that the villagers accepted (their presence there), more of them came and eventually a colony was created.
"Most of them earn a living by taking on grass-cutting jobs and collecting scrap metal and used items."
However, he said, some Rohingya started to open shops in their settlement, and others became subcontractors for cutting grass, getting jobs from registered contractors.
He admitted the local villagers' role in contributing to the problem, as some had allowed the Rohingya to operate businesses using their licenses and some even became food suppliers for vegetables and subsidised items, among others.
"Some (locals) even allowed the Rohingyas to buy vehicles using their name, apart from renting their houses to them."
Checks at Kampung Telok Serdang found that houses, where the Rohingya people live in, were built too close to each other raising concerns about fire hazards in the settlement, which also has madrasah (religious school), sundry shop and workshops run by the community.
The place is filthy with drains and a river nearby used as dumping grounds.
A similar situation was found in Kampung Kangkar Tebrau, with garbage plastic bags, used items such as electrical appliances, soiled mattresses left in the house compound.
Resident Mohd Saifuddin Mohd Nasir, 36, said the locals had repeatedly reminded the Rohingya to keep the area clean, but they pretend not to understand Bahasa Malaysia.
'IMPERVIOUS TO THE LAW'
"In Jalan Nyior, the locals live in two of the houses, while the Rohingyas occupy 20 others, making the former seem like the 'foreigners'.
"How are they able to drive vehicles without driver's licences; and some even displayed state emblems on the vehicles, giving an impression that they're immune to the law," said Saifuddin.
Kampung Kangkar Tebrau mosque committee chairman Abdul Razak Tarmizi also expressed concern over the village being used as a transit for Rohingya arriving from other states.
He also raised concerns that some of these foreigners have remained there permanently.
He said some residents suspected the group of conducting illegal activities including online gambling or making the village a crime den as many of them are seen coming in and out daily.
He urged authorities to intervene because previous attempts to discuss the matter with the group were futile.
"Most regrettably, United Nations High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) representatives who came here to meet the Rohingya did not ask to meet the residents' committee.
"The residents remain patient and adopt a wait-and-see attitude. However, I am concerned that if the authorities do not take action, untoward incidents may happen, posing a risk to the lives of the residents," he said.
In Kelantan, the majority of over 300 Rohingya people in Kampung Kubang Tin and Kampung Melor Lama own cars and motorcycles, with a special surau for their children to study in.
A survey also showed that apart from a sundry shop, there are eateries run by Rohingya which become gathering spots for members of the community.
"They buy vehicles with cash, besides paying a sum of money to residents to use (their) names (for things)," said a source.
PROVIDE GUIDELINES TO PREVENT INFLUX OF REFUGEES
Guidelines and mechanism are needed to prevent the influx of Rohingya refugees in the country.
Pulai member of parliament Suhaizan Kaiat said the guidelines were important to address the rising number of colonies that could lead to social and economic problems.
He said the colonies that can be found in the Klang in Selangor and Negri Sembilan; and the latest in Johor had sent an urgent signal to the government to draw up guidelines to keep them in check.
"I have received complaints from Pulai constituencies that Kampung Telok Serdang, Perling and Kampung Skudai Kiri had been overrun by Rohingya people, and in some places their numbers are higher than the locals.
"The residents are restless as the Rohingyas do not respect the law and are ill-mannered, now that their group is bigger than the locals.
"I will raise this issue in the Dewan Rakyat and Iskandar Puteri District Action Meeting (MTD) to call for the drafting of guidelines and mechanisms to monitor the refugees."
Suhaizan, who is also Johor Amanah vice-chairman, said the residents also raised concerns over the rising number of Rohingya owning vehicles and driving without licence.
"I was made to understand that the UNHCR cards are not valid to drive any motorised vehicles in Malaysia."