Helping Malaysia's Homeless During This Trying Time
It is no secret that daily life around the world has come to a near-halt, with governments imposing restrictions on movement as a measure of curbing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While the move is commendable, and working to bring the numbers, there are certain concerns, such as what about those who don’t a safe home to stay in – what about the homeless?
Fortunately, the homeless people in Kuala Lumpur are currently in good hands. More than 800 of them are being taken care of by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
Alhamdulillah..Arahan saya supaya di pasang cubicles utk gelandangan segera di laksanakan mim ini..syukur..sy urus selimut pulak pic.twitter.com/2J4qkVDP9Y
— Annuar Musa (@AnnuarMusa) April 6, 2020
They are currently placed at several community centres in the city – two transit centres in Jalan Pahang and Anjung Singgah in Kuala Lumpur, and four community centres and multipurpose halls under DBKL to shelter the homeless. Namely, halls in Sentul Perdana and Setiawangsa community centres, as well as Alam Damai Cheras and Tasik Ampang Hilir multipurpose halls.
They are provided with a mattress, a pillow and food several times a day – all courtesy of NGOs.
KL Mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan commented to the Malay Mail that the homeless were put through a COVID-19 test before placed based on three categories: the healthy, those with a communicable disease, mental illness and drug abuse issues, as well as non-citizens. So far, no one has tested positive.
And there is more good news: the homeless will be given jobs after the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Tan Sri Annuar Musa, The Federal Territories Minister, officially shares that the city’s homeless population would be screened and provided with training as well as employment with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) or private companies.
“We are prepared to offer 500 to 700 positions, and they will be paid a salary of between RM1,200 to RM1,400, ” he announced during a press conference on 10 April 2020. He added that they would also be provided with lodging in dormitories and would start work starting from May 1 2020, should the movement control order be lifted by then.
Alhamdulillah,saya bersyukur kerana telah dapat mencari dan mewujudkan 600 peluang pekerjaan berserta kemudahan asrama utk gelandang yg sihat dan layak,dgn gaji permulaan RM1400 sebulan serta elaunKita mahu mereka meninggalkan dunia gelandangan dan berhijrah ke kehidupan baru.Insyallah
Posted by Tan Sri Annuar Musa on Friday, 10 April 2020
Definitely great news for the community and nation.
Source: The Star, Malay Mail
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