According to BuletinTV3, for the past week, residents of Kampung Kemat in Terengganu have been living in fear due to the frequent appearances of a roaming bear.
In an interview, one of the residents, Kamaruddin Ali, reported that the bear had been sighted on more than five occasions, wandering around the outskirts of the village.
He recalled the first sighting when a fellow villager, who also runs a school canteen, spotted the bear at approximately 4 am on his way to work.
Meanwhile, the latest incident occurred two days ago when political party workers, returning home after putting up party posters and flags, came face-to-face with the bear on the roadside.
They could not proceed on their journey home and had to wait anxiously until the bear disappeared into the nearby bushes.
According to local authorities, this is the first time a bear has been spotted roaming around the village, as they usually stay within the confines of the nearby forests. The incident has been reported to the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) for appropriate action.
The village residents expressed their concerns about the safety of children and those commuting to and from work, especially during nighttime encounters with the bear.
To prevent future incidents and ensure safety, the residents are calling for the bear to be captured and relocated to a safer environment away from human settlements.
We hope the authorities look into this as urgently as possible to prevent unwanted incidents.
