TAPAH: Five residents of a Felcra farm worker's housing were shocked when an undocumented immigrant who had recently escaped from the Bidor Immigration Detention Depot showed up unexpectedly at their doorstep.
Farm supervisor Mohd Firdaus Salim said a Rohingya man, who was in his 20s, showed up in a weak and hungry state about 8.40pm.
"I received a video call from an Indonesian worker residing in the farm's house, informing me that an unknown man was asking for food. The man was accompanied by 10 others who were hiding near the location adjacent to the Bukit Tapah Permanent Forest Reserve.
"The workers provided the man with rice and dishes before instructing him to sleep in a room while I reported to the police," he added.
According to Firdaus, police arrested the man who was sleeping soundly when they arrived at the workers' housing quarters.
However, the man said he could not remember the route back to the other immigrants, who went into hiding.
Firdaus said the workers' housing quarters was about 5km from the Bidor detention depot, and the possibility of the solar lights illuminating the area attracted the detainees to seek help.
Meanwhile, residents of the Orang Asli village of Sungai Merah, located within the farm, were also on alert following the capture made in the area last night.
Sukardi Bah Chapa, 46, who is also the chairman of the Orang Asli Village Development and Safety Committee (JPKKOA) Sungai Merah, said 40 residents took turns patrolling to ensure the safety of the village from any threats from escaped detainees.
"We patrol from night until early morning because we are concerned about the safety of the 275 residents from the 72 houses here, including women and children," he said, adding that they also communicated with the authorities in case of the presence of unknown individuals.
On Feb 2, police confirmed that 131 illegal immigrants from Myanmar and Rohingya ethnic groups escaped from the depot. - BERNAMA