Rescued: Sabah Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib speaking to some of the people picked up during the operation last month.
KOTA KINABALU: They have the will to educate the kids, but it’s a long way to getting it done.
It is a slow process trying to teach children and adults from the Palau (sea gypsies) community who were rescued from begging on the streets a month ago, said Sabah Welfare Services Department director Jais Asri.
He explained that this is due to them having a tough time adjusting to a proper home structure.
They are used to roaming around freely and the idea of having to stay put at one place is somewhat new to them, he said.
He said the department will guide them on the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic.
“We are also trying to instil in them the basic on how to live as a community,” he said when contacted.
However, he conceded that progress has been slow.
“There are adjustments from both sides to be made accordingly,” Jais said, adding that non-governmental organisations are also involved in teaching them these skills.
There are 53 people being placed at the temporary home for now. They include 30 children and their mothers who were rescued in an integrated operation on Feb 8.
Jais said they will be heading to Sabah’s east coast districts of Tawau and Lahad Datu soon where cases of street beggars are reportedly rampant.
For decades, the presence of stateless people and street beggars has been a concern among road users and the locals in Sabah.
Some of the beggars would approach motorists at traffic light intersections, knocking on car windows and pleading for cash.
Authorities have since tried to get them off the streets by placing them in a temporary home situated at an undisclosed location here.
During the state assembly sitting on Nov 28 last year, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the temporary shelter is the first step in solving this long-standing issue.
Hajiji said basic living skill training, informal religious teachings and other basic skills will be provided to these children for up to three months before they are released back to their parents or guardians.
