KUCHING: A new trend has emerged where foreigners are renting houses in traditional Malay villages here.
In disclosing this yesterday, Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg called on community leaders to be on the lookout for foreigners in their villages to ensure that social problems would not arise to disrupt peace and harmony for local residents.
“Traditional Malay villages situated in the city centre are faced with a unique situation where the local community are migrating to new residential areas in other parts of the city. This has led to many unoccupied houses in the villages and some of these houses are being rented out to foreigners.
“This is a new trend that is happening in villages around Satok. Most of these foreigners who come here are traders.
“What we have learned from the situation in the peninsula is that these foreigners tend to have cliques among themselves and this creates social problems,” he told a press conference.
He stressed that community leaders and village heads must know what is going on in their respective areas, especially with regards to occupants of rented houses.
Abang Johari earlier presented appointment letters to four village heads and two penghulus under the Satok state constituency, where he is assemblyman.
“The appointed community leaders are educated people as we look to upgrade the standard of community leaders based on the current environment we are living in.
“I hope they would perform well especially in giving input to the elected representatives.
“I also hope that they will forge strong working relations with the Resident’s Office,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari said funding has been allocated to set up three police kiosks along the Sungai Bintangor area with personnel and patrols including for Kampung Masjid Bintangor and adjacent villages.
On development in his constituency, Abang Johari said the lifestyle in Satok has changed due to urbanisation.
In view of this, he stressed members of the Malay community must work to retain their identity while keeping up with rapid development.