The Malaysian Insight

JUST months after they were given a roof over their heads and a job, the homeless are back once more in the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

During the movement-control order period, which began on March 18, City Hall (DBKL) swept the homeless into shelters to protect them from the risk of Covid-19 infection.

DBKL set up seven temporary shelters to house nearly 700 homeless people.

The Federal Territories Ministry and DBKL next looked into finding employment for them to keep them from going back to the streets.

Work was found for some of them at the factories and DBKL hired the rest.

Companies that took part in the jobs programme for the homeless included Adabi Consumer Industries Sdn Bhd, Hartalega NGC Sdn Bhd, Harumi Brands Sdn Bhd, Top Glove Sdn Bhd, Tesco Malaysia and Trendcell Sdn Bhd.

But it looks like they may have lost some employees to the streets. 

Asked why they had exchanged the security of having a job and a place to live for life in the city streets, they said they were accustomed to the latter, which felt more comfortable to them.

Ma Son Hin, 46, was offered a job at a poultry factory in Sitiawan, Perak.

After working for four days, he took off because he was not familiar with his duties. He was also unhappy with the minimum wage of RM1,200 with lodging.

“I did not like the environment of slaughtering and handling chickens. Pay wise, one gets paid more working as a part-timer at the restaurants these days,” he said.

Ma said he preferred to work as a chef and that he had come to KL in the hopes of finding such a job.

Since he was penniless, he preferred to live in the streets until he had found it. 

Another homeless person, Hedy, 33, had secured a job at a glove manufacturing company in Sepang, Selangor.

But he was put off by the long working hours, seven-day work week, and mandatory overtime. 

“I was given good pay and given good accommodation near the company but I was not happy with the long working hours.

“I was required to work 12 hours and do overtime on top of that without getting an off day. I felt it was very long and tiring,” Hedy said.

Hedy, who hails from Kelantan, is married with two kids. He said he would happily take another job that allowed him a rest day and decent working hours. 

He said he needed the free time to visit his family.
 

New faces 

The financial effects of the pandemic have also contributed to the number of homeless people in the city.

Shah, 28, from Senawang, Negri Sembilan, had lost his job as a cook in KL.

He said he left the restaurant after the employer began paying him in meals in lieu of a salary.

Upon becoming homeless, he was scooped up by DBKL which recommended him for work as a security guard. However, the company did not pay him what he was promised, which prompted him to leave.

“The agreement failed when the private company did not fulfil the pledge they had given to DBKL, because they had manipulated the employment terms.

“One of them was the salary. They promised me a salary of RM1,200, but after a week of employment, they said there would be deductions for accommodation and other miscellaneous things,” he said.

He said he would take another job through DBKL if the employers did not trick him.

If he was unable to land a job soon, Shah said he would return to his hometown.

Siti Zaleha, 58, is another who is new to homelessness

Now in her third month of living in the streets, the diabetic with an infection on her left foot lost her home when her roommate got married, which left no room for her.

As a naive newbie to life as a vagrant, she has lost her bank card, her identity card as well as the cash that she had in her pocket.

Despite her misfortunes, she described herself as happy. She said she was cared for by charity workers, who gave medical attention to her wound and who had even provided her with a wheelchair.

“Although we sleep in the streets, we are blessed with lots of meals and medical attention by good doctors,” she said.

However, she would accept any offer of shelter from DBKL. 

“I would definitely take it because of my sick condition, old age and inability to work.”

With the threat of Covid-19 still pervasive in Malaysia, the homeless said they continued to sleep rough because they could afford nothing else.

Their meals are supplied by charity groups who bring food to them, sometimes up to five times a day.

DBKL screened the homeless for infection prior to their admission to the shelters. – September 4, 2020.