Kelantan Police Chief Says Crimes Involving Rohingya Occur Within the Community, Not With Locals

KOTA BHARU, Malaysia, October 20, 2026 — Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat says crimes involving members of the Rohingya community in the state have occurred within the community rather than involving local residents.

In remarks reported by Malaysian outlet Buletin TV3 on Tuesday, Mohd Yusoff said the presence of Rohingya in Kelantan remained under control and that police continued to monitor the community.

He put the number of Rohingya in the state at 8,021 and said all held cards, issued by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The police chief also said local residents renting houses and land to Rohingya contributed to their presence in the state. He added that police in each district continued to monitor the community.

His remarks followed concerns raised by community activist Mohd Azhar Mohd Adnan, known as Abbe Hae, who warned that Kelantan could see an increase in undocumented migrants, including Rohingya, if the issue was not addressed effectively.

Mohd Azhar said he had received information from members of the public about the issue and that the growing presence of Rohingya in some areas had caused anxiety among residents, although he said the community did not threaten residents’ lives.

The statements come amid public discussion in Kelantan about the presence of Rohingya refugees and migration. The police chief’s comments and the activist’s concerns reflect their respective views on the issue; they do not establish that the Rohingya community as a whole poses a threat to local residents.