Gelang Patah folk worried about migrants

THE rise in Bangladeshi and Pakistani migrant population in the Gelang Patah area of Johor Baru has become a growing concern for Malaysian residents in the area, reported Harian Metro.

Residents in the area said the presence of Bangladeshi and Pakistani migrants in the area had also raised fears of a Covid-19 outbreak.

They said the foreign population in the area started mushrooming about five years ago.

Resident Mohd Hafiz Daud, 39, said the migrants manned about 20 shops, which also served as their meeting place.

“Now that Covid-19 is a concern, we hope the authorities will take this issue seriously as the area has become their gathering place in the evenings and at night.

“Most of them don’t wear face masks (when gathering),” said Hafiz.

Azizah Sapari, 47, said the area the shops were located in was dirty and that locals avoided them.

Johor Housing and Local Government Committee chairman Ayub Jamil said authorities would ensure that foreigners did not work or own any business premises.

> Sinar Harian reported that a drug addict’s attempt to hide from National Anti-Drugs Agency personnel in a cupboard during a raid at a house in Kampung Permatang Buluh in Yan, Kedah, failed after his legs were exposed.

Agency district chief Mohamad Ramli said the 25-year-old man’s legs were seen hanging out of the cupboard when the raid began.

“The suspect’s girlfriend opened the doors when we came to the house. As we searched his mother’s room, an enforcement officer spotted the suspect’s legs jutting out of a cupboard,” he said.

The officers also found a can filled with methamphetamine that was allegedly used by the addict.