KUALA LUMPUR: A group of 113 Rohingya refugees have been temporarily transferred from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters (IPK).
Despite the cries of women and infants echoing across Dataran Wira, the situation remained orderly as police officers, healthcare personnel, NGO representatives and UNHCR officials worked together to manage the refugees.
During a media visit at around 12.30pm on Tuesday (July 28), the refugees were seen waiting patiently at the open-air compound for their turn to undergo the necessary checks.
Healthcare personnel were also seen conducting medical examinations in stages, while police officers maintained security to ensure the process proceeded smoothly.
Meanwhile, food, infant formula, sanitary pads and other basic necessities were distributed to the refugees to ensure their welfare during their temporary stay.
It is understood that a new placement for the group has yet to be finalised.
Previously, Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus said the 113 refugees were transferred to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters at about 8.50pm on Monday (July 27).
The group comprised one Iraqi man, one Somali woman, one Indonesian woman who is married to a Rohingya man, as well as 110 Rohingya refugees.
Among the Rohingya were 36 adult men, 21 adult women, 31 boys and 22 girls.
Comm Fadil said documentation procedures were carried out by officers from the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department, Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department and Internal Security and Public Order Department, together with UNHCR representatives.
The process found that all the Rohingya refugees possessed valid UNHCR documents.
On Monday (July 27), hundreds of Rohingya refugees gathered outside the UNHCR office in Jalan Bukit Petaling after being displaced from their settlement in Kampung Kuala Muda, Penaga, Penang.
North Seberang Perai OCPD Asst Comm Anuar Abdul Rahman said the relocation was prompted by growing competition over economic opportunities and living space following an increase in the Rohingya population at the settlement.
