In referring to the recent special report claiming that foreigners and foreign workers are causing social, hygiene and security problems, indirectly plummeting the housing prices, Gerakan Head of Central Bureau on Environment, Safety and Quality of Life, Dr. Cheah Soon Hai suggests the government to take a serious look at the issue and draw up a proper plan to address it.

“According to the report, there are at least 30 areas including rural areas, residential areas, markets and commercial areas in the Klang Valley have been ‘occupied’ by foreigners who are holders of travel visa, student identity card or working permit. In some areas, the number of foreigners even exceeds local residents, they even monopolizing the local businesses such as engaging in grocery stores, market vendors, restaurants and many more. Therefore, these areas have also been dubbed as Acehnese village, Myanmar market, African condominium and many more. Some local residents can no longer tolerate the social, hygiene and security problems caused by the foreigners and chose to move away from the area. Thus, it shows that the uncontrolled admission of foreign workers and their overstaying in the country is affecting the lives of the local residents and deprives their economic opportunities,” says Dr. Cheah.

“I suggest the government and related enforcement departments, such as DBKL, Immigration Department and the police to take immediate actions, especially on foreigners engaging in business activities with invalid permits, to verify the validity of their permit and deport them back to their respective countries immediately if they are caught overstaying in the country,” suggests Dr. Cheah, who is also Kedah Derga State Assemblyman.

Dr. Cheah says that the main purpose of building the PPR flat is to help citizens with low income to be able to own their home, but there are some PPR flat units especially in Flat Sri Selangor, Kuala Lumpur have been misused by the tenants to rent out to foreigners in private, it is against the original intent of the government to build PPR flat. In addition, some foreigners even constantly creating troubles in a particular area and it is causing unrest to the local residents, the situation has been prevalent for quite some time.

Therefore, Dr. Cheah urges the flat management and enforcement departments to conduct spot check on the flat units, and issue warning letter to tenants who rent out their unit illegally, or revoke their tenancy as a punishment. At the same time, those who rent out their booths and hawker pitches to foreign workers must also be made to face the same music.