SEREMBAN: The existence of illegal settlements which even had school-like facilities is unacceptable, says Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.

The Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar, clearly upset that an illegal settlement was allowed to exist in a secluded area in Nilai near here for some time now, said public security was something he was not prepared to compromise on.

"To me, this is not a small matter and by right, unforgivable.

"I would like to repeat that I am not going to tolerate this and all relevant agencies and departments must ensure it doesn't happen again," he told reporters when met at the Sunrise MCL Land Chinese New Year open house.

Aminuddin was responding to the arrests of 67 Indonesians without valid travel documents in a joint raid carried out by several government agencies in an area which has been turned into a settlement in Nilai near here early on Wednesday (Feb 1).

The settlement, which was located in uneven and swampy terrain, was powered by several generators.

Those detained were between the ages of two months and 72 years old. Eleven were men, 20 were women and the rest were children.

Also seized from the settlement were weapons including spears and machetes.

Aminuddin said all enforcement agencies including local councils, the Land Office, police and Immigration need to be more vigilant and act immediately when they receive a complaint regarding such matters.

"These things should not be happening. Action should have been taken a long time ago.

"We see there are also children and their mothers detained in the raid and it only means that they had been there for some time," he said.

He said enforcement teams should also gather information and conduct more patrolling to ensure no such illegal settlements are ever built again.

Aminddin said he would raise the matter in the next state security council meeting.

"I am going to tell every agency and department in the council that this should never happen again.

"In fact, I hope the National Security Council will also look into this as the safety of our people is paramount," he added.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2023/02/02/aminuddin-unacceptable-for-illegal-settlement-to-exist-in-negri