Sleeping rough: A homeless man has turned a space outside a vacant building in Ipoh city centre into his place of rest and shelter from the elements. – ILI AQILAH/The Star
WALK around the streets of Ipoh city centre and you may come across pieces of flattened cardboard boxes and empty food containers.
These are tell-tale signs on the presence of homeless people.
Despite numerous efforts by the Perak government and non-governmental organisations, scores of homeless can still be seen sleeping along five-foot ways at various locations around the city.
These locations include Jalan CM Yusuff, Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar and Jalan Foo Yet Kai.
Though a few may be there by choice, some of the homeless who spoke to StarMetro said they have tried to reintegrate into society but were shunned, leaving them with no choice but to sleep on the streets.
Zeti Shuhaila says the majority of the homeless are former convicts who are still using drugs.
Soup kitchen Dapur Jalanan Ipoh co-founder Zeti Shuhaila Mustafa Kamal, 50, finds that many homeless in Ipoh are drug addicts.
“Almost all the homeless we have met in Ipoh are former convicts who have problems getting jobs because they don’t have any source of income and are rejected by their families.
“When they are on the street, it triggers their drug addictions, which is why it is hard for them to get help,” she said.
The soup kitchen operates once every two weeks and feeds up to 100 people, sometimes more.
As for getting them off the streets, Zeti Shuhaila said some of the homeless could not be rehomed at the Anjung Singgah shelter of the Perak Social Welfare Department (JKM) as they were not free from drugs and alcohol.
“When they first got out of jail, they had the determination to change their lives but when things took a wrong turn, they returned to taking drugs and abusing alcohol.
“It takes a lot of work for them to change their lives, so they often feel that only their street friends understand them,” she said, adding that there were also those who preferred to sleep on the streets for freedom of movement.
Zeti Shuhaila said Ipoh used to have a Cure and Care Service Centre (CCSC) under the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) that provided shelter for the homeless.
A woman leaves food for a homeless man while (right) a man sleeps on the street near Jalan Foo Yet Kai.
“The CCSC, which is now closed, was set up specifically for former convicts and addicts to seek help.
“It was a place for them to rest, clean up and even get counselling,” she said, adding that it also offered lessons on how to pray and recite the Quran.
“It would be great if the agency can set up the centre again and perhaps provide a space for the homeless to sleep as well,” she said.
Zeti Shuhaila said the AADK, JKM and the state Islamic Religious Department had also approached the homeless to help them.
“But it seems that the homeless were not interested.”
An administrator who wished to be known only as Lai, 25, said a more comprehensive action was needed to help the homeless in the city.
“My friends and I used to feed the homeless in Jalan CM Yusuff. One guy told us that he couldn’t get a job because he is battling drug addiction.
“He told us that he was disowned by his family after he went to prison. They moved without telling him so when he got out, he didn’t know where to go and ended up taking drugs again,” she said.
“I believe he is not the only homeless man facing this. They want to change but it takes a lot of effort and it can’t be done alone.
“Perhaps rehabilitation centres should focus not only on battling drug addiction, but also offer a place to get counselling, job opportunities and mental support,” she added.
Engineer Siti Shafikah Mohamad Habib, 33, believed that extra care for the homeless could help them get back on the right path.
“The homeless person needs basic necessities such as a place to sleep and food. A centre providing that and paying them incentives for work would encourage them to be better.
“The job can be for cleaning or carpentry or any skilled jobs that they can do as long as they can be motivated and have a purpose in life,” she said.
“Help should also be extended to their families or relatives in the form of counselling sessions,” she added.
Trader Liew Ah Thai, 60, hopes for a better solution for the homeless in Ipoh.
She said after she closes for the day, there are usually one or two homeless folk sleeping in front of her shop in Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar.
“They wait until we pull down the shutters before they lie down.
“I remember there was one time, one of them defecated in front of my shop. Luckily I had my staff with me and we waited until he left before cleaning up the mess as it caused discomfort for us and our customers,” she said.
Liew added that she was afraid to give the homeless food for fear of her safety.
“That is why I hope there is more help given to the homeless. They need a place to sleep, so if there is a space allocated for them, that would be great. Otherwise, they are just going to sleep on the street,” she said, suggesting that shelters should also allow them to clean themselves up to motivate them to look for jobs.
Perak JKM director Nor Tipah Majin said 93 operations have been conducted and 97 homeless folk were rescued last year.
“Twenty-one of them were sent to our institutions as they were unable to take care of themselves.
“These included senior citizens aged above 60 years old who are no longer able to earn a living,” she said.
She added that besides assisting them with accommodation, regular doctor visits to check on their health was also provided.
“The remaining 76 included drug addicts, those with mental illness and non-Malaysians,” she said, adding that the operations were held together with other agencies such as the police, local government, Immigration Department and the AADK.
Nor Tipah said homeless folk had to be vetted before they could be placed at welfare homes.
“Most of the homeless folk in the state have drug addictions and mental issues.
“Those with drug addiction will be handled by the AADK while the state Health Department will take care of those with mental issues,” she said.
