Bukit Malut community disproves Rohingya settlement claims

A study by Universiti Utara Malaysia found that Bukit Malut in Langkawi has a resident population of about 5,500, of which 92.2 % hold valid Malaysian MyKad cards, confirming they are Malaysian citizens. The majority belong to the Malay Islam Kedah (MIK) community, whose ancestors migrated to Myanmar during the Japanese occupation and returned to Malaysia in the 1980s.

The research refutes earlier rumours that the village hosts 15,000 Rohingya refugees. Local officials noted that crime rates in Bukit Malut have been low over the past five years. Professors, including Prof. Madya Dr. Mohd Na’eim Ajis, called for a public‑communication strategy to correct the negative perception and to promote community development programmes in fishing, education and skills training.