Kelantan has no power to stop owners renting homes, land to foreigners

Kota Bharu: Kelantan authorities have no power to intervene when owners rent out their homes or land to foreigners, as the properties legally belong to the owners. State Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Hilmi Abdullah stated that local authorities could only take action if the community was occupying government land, which would be considered trespassing.

The same applies in the Klang Valley, where homes are rented out to foreigners without any legal issues, as the properties are owned by the individuals renting them. Authorities can only take action if the community is found trespassing on government land, operating businesses without permits, or working without proper authorization.

To tackle the issue, Hilmi suggested that property owners should stop renting out their homes and land to foreigners, although some residents reportedly do so out of sympathy or financial reasons. Monitoring these individuals falls under the jurisdiction of the Immigration Department. A recent story highlighted concerns among residents about a betel leaf plantation in Kampung Padang Guchil, allegedly cultivated by foreigners for years.

The plantation, situated on over 2 hectares, was rented from a landowner outside Kelantan at rates between RM600 and RM1,000 per hectare, with the produce later sold to wholesalers. Previously overgrown, the land was transformed into a betel leaf plantation after being leased out to the community several years ago. Residents also noted that the foreigner population in the village had grown from around 15 people over a decade ago to nearly 100 currently, raising further concerns.

Hilmi explained that enforcement action was taken against the plantation because the land use violated the conditions attached to the lot, as the land was designated for rubber cultivation and orchard use, not betel leaf cultivation. No planning approval was obtained for the plantation. The residential building was sealed due to the lack of an application and necessary permit.