PUTRAJAYA paid out the first tranche of its cost-of-living aid (Bantuan Sara Hidup) to four million low-income households last week, but the poorest of the urban poor are still falling through the cracks.

Alone and homeless, elderly urban poor have never even heard of the various programmes offered by the government.

Whether it is the new government’s BSM aid or its predecessor 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), or the new insurance scheme for the poor, mySalam, those met at Jalan Yew in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, said they have never even heard of such assistance.

At a car park below a flyover off Jalan Yew in the city centre, the homeless have gathered and lived here for more than a decade.

A 75-year-old, who gave his name as Leong, has only a medium-sized backpack of clothes. His bed made of cardboard boxes is placed on a ramp, only 1m away from a huge rubbish bin.

Leong has lived around the Jalan Yew area for 11 years. Born and raised in Pahang, he said he became homeless after he failed to find consistent income and because he was all alone.

“I’m here every day. I am not married and I have no family,” he said, adding that he used to be a contractor in Pahang. 

Next to him was a jar of cookies and a polystyrene food container which Leong said he received from locals in the area and nearby market. Sometimes, people give him cash as well.

At one time, Leong was the parking lot’s attendant but his frail physique did not allow him to continue. He used to earn up to RM10 a day.

“I need RM2 for the public toilet. Every morning at 4, I will take a shower. Last time I would sneak in to shower but now they have someone guarding the entrance, so I have to pay.

“Sometimes I don’t eat as I use the money to shower. I would smell if I don’t shower because of my surroundings.”

When asked if he received or had applied for any government aid, Leong said “no”.

When told about BR1M under the previous government, and the new mySalam health insurance scheme, he said he has never heard of them.

No one from the “authorities” has offered help either, although he a regular in the area.

“No one ever came to help or anything. I never got approached by anyone.” 

Near the Pudu market, a man who only wanted to be identified as Ravi said he was not aware of any of the government’s programmes when told about them.

The 46-year-old tried to get menial work but foreign workers often beat him to it, he said.

“Every opportunity is taken by them. I don’t know what else to do,” he said holding a bundle of RM1 notes he received from guarding the car park. 

His earnings come from ushering cars to empty lots at the parking area. He said he could get at least RM25 a day from the task. 

“It’s not a lot but I can buy food with this. I don’t do this everyday. 

“Sometimes I go to other areas because there is competition here,” he said, referring to other homeless people.

Like Leong and Ravi, five more individuals whom The Malaysian Insight spoke to also earned their keep as illegal car jockeys.

Tam Ah Hua said he has never registered for any programme as he simply did not know of any.

“I did not register for any. I only earn money from minding the parking space,” he said, adding that he could earn up to RM30 a day. 

Besides the BSH, the recently introduced the mySalam health scheme offers insurance coverage for at least five years for 36 critical illnesses. It is meant to protect the bottom 40% of wage-earners, or the B40 group, who earn less than RM3,900 a month.

Registration for mySalam, however, must be done online.

It is barriers like technology, and the lack of help if an elderly person is homeless and alone, which prevent aid from reaching those who need it most.

Asked to comment on how the government can ensure no one among the poor are left out, Klang MP Charles Santiago, said “marketing” efforts are necessary.

“Maybe there is a need to reach out publicly, to go to the people.

“Perhaps if MPs, staff and relevant agencies could go down to the ground and explain it to people. They should engage with vulnerable communities,” said Santiago who has wide experience implementing social welfare programmes with Selangor’s Peduli Rakyat programmes.

He said the menteri besar and assemblymen promoted the programmes, going district by district to ensure every eligible person heard about them.

Santiago said the authorities should also work with other organisations engaging with the poor, such as religious groups, non-profit medical teams and welfare groups. – February 4, 2019.