POLICE arrested 238 people in a raid on an illegal settlement in Kg Ulu Rening, Batang Kali, Kuala Kubu Baru, yesterday.

In the 5pm operation, officers rounded up 76 men, 77 women and 85 children, including babies, who were living in plastic tents in a newly cleared area of the forest, said Selangor Criminal Investigation Department chief Fadzil Ahmat.

He said the squatters are from several states and claimed to be members of Dewan Perkasa Ekonomi Islam Nusantara.

“We are investigating the association. What we know is that they ate, bathed and lived there.

“Police are trying to establish when they started occupying the area,” he told reporters at Dewan Serbaguna Kuala Kubu Baru last night.

Asked whether they entered the area before the movement-control order (MCO) came into force on March 18, he said investigations are ongoing.

“What is certain is that they have violated the MCO and they came from various places, like Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan and other states.”

The group will undergo health screenings at Dewan Serbaguna Kuala Kubu Baru, where they are temporarily housed.

“The Health Ministry, Welfare Department and Kuala Kubu Baru District Council will help in the screening process and look into their needs,” said Fadzil. – Bernama, April 29, 2020.