PETALING JAYA: Renting houses indiscriminately to undocumented migrants can lead to crime, including fights and gangsterism, says Titiwangsa MP Johari Ghani.
He said that, based on his experience, such problems are exacerbated when some homes are occupied by too many tenants, jeopardising local safety.
Johari cited a village in Kampung Pandan that had faced similar problems, disrupting public order.
“At one point, many foreigners (undocumented migrants) were living in houses rented out by owners who no longer lived in the area.
“They lived in large groups, leading to crime, including gangsterism,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian at an event at the Laksamana PPR flats in Jalan Peel, Kuala Lumpur.
Johari said he was working with the Wangsa Maju police chief to address the issue, including contacting homeowners to urge them to be more careful when selecting tenants.
“Through cooperation with the police, many of these problems can be resolved. We contact homeowners and ask them to avoid renting their properties to unknown foreigners,” he said.
Johari said this measure would not only help reduce crime rates but also prevent friction between local residents and undocumented migrants.
He also stressed that effective crime prevention required residents and community leaders to cooperate closely with the police in providing information.
Johari urged residents not to take matters into their own hands or confront criminals, saying that doing so could put their safety at risk.
“I do not want residents to expose themselves to risk and become victims of criminals,” he said.
Johari also emphasised the importance of knowing one’s neighbours. “If we live on the seventh floor and there are 16 homes on that floor, we should try to get to know all our neighbours,” he said.
“If we have not seen a neighbour for three or four days, we should check on them. If we are afraid to approach them ourselves, we should inform the residents’ association chairman.”