KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 126 Rohingya refugees were relocated from outside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office at Jalan Bukit Petaling here after they set up tents and turned the area into a temporary settlement.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Fadil Marsus said the area surrounding the UNHCR office was considered a sensitive location and was not designated for use as a temporary settlement.
He said the police and the immigration department relocated the refugees to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters to undergo screening and documentation.
“We will conduct the screening at a more suitable location. Those without documents will be detained, while those with documents will have their status verified by UNHCR first.
“UNHCR, together with its support units and NGOs, will identify suitable accommodation for those with valid documents because we cannot take action under the Immigration Act against holders of valid UNHCR cards,” he said in a statement.
Fadil said 58 of the 126 Rohingya refugees relocated were adults.
He said all the refugees had fully cooperated throughout the operation, and no public officers were reported to have been obstructed while carrying out their duties.
Fadil also said police have yet to verify claims regarding the arrival of two more buses believed to be carrying Rohingya refugees to the capital.
Earlier, Bernama reported that four police trucks were deployed to relocate the refugees, most of whom were carrying luggage and personal belongings.
The group had arrived here on three buses from Penang.
