Cheras Ria apartment residents irked by foreigners' unhygienic ways

Throwing litter all over the place and meeting in large groups have become a norm for foreigners staying at the Cheras Ria Apartment, here.

What''s more alarming is these residents even throw their rubbish directly from the higher floors in the building, much to the chagrin of locals.

In addition to strewing rubbish on the stairs, the foreigners believed to be mostly Rohingyas also discard their spoiled electrical devices, used betel leaves and liquor bottles in the pedestrian walkways, and make a lot of noise during the night.

According to residents, besides the hygiene problem, the influx of migrants who often gather in droves during the evening is also frightening, especially as cases involving vehicle theft and burglary has also been on the rise.

Housewife Fatimah Mohd Mahidin, 54, said almost 50 per cent of the residents at the Cheras Ria Apartment comprise foreigners from Myanmar, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Vietnam.

She said the foreigners were often seen gathering at the children''s playground during the evenings and left their rubbish strewn around, especially in drains, causing blockages.

Due to their unhygienic ways, our area has been blacklisted as high risk for dengue fever, and more than 10 cases have been reported from January till now, " she told reporters here Friday.

Meanwhile, Kok Koei Lan, 65, expressed concern over her safety as well as of other locals as the foreigners often threw garbage from the top floor of their apartment.

"There have been several occasions where glass bottles have fallen from the top floor when I''m heading down to go to the market, and once, a plastic bottle had even fallen on my head," said the senior citizen.

S. Karthikesu, a 56-year-old private sector worker said theft and burglary incidents had also increased since the foreigners started settling there in the past five years, and now, almost every week residents there had complained that their house had been broken into.

Meanwhile, Federal Territory MCA Women deputy chief Heng Sinn Yee said the party would get in touch with the Immigration Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), Alam Flora and the police to take further action on the matter.

"The authorities need to patrol the area more often, because we understand that it is rarely being done now due to its location, which is in the outskirts of the city.

"In addition, we also will help residents apply for additional street lights in the vicinity of Cheras Ria Apartment and notify the Immigration Department to perform operations to curb illegal foreign residents living in this area," she said. - BERNAMA