HOMELESSNESS appears to be on the rise in Bukit Bintang, Pudu and Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, as undocumented migrants and middle-aged unemployed join old people sleeping on five-foot-ways despite the economy reopening from the pandemic restrictions.

Eric Teh, an aide to Bukit Bintang MP Fong Kui Lun, said the number increased as Covid-19 restrictions eased and the economy reopened. Among the homeless are foreign nationals, he added.

One reason for the increase, Teh speculated, is that people are dropping out of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) programmes to provide shelter for homeless people.

“Not all of them are willing to receive help to get off the streets,” Teh told The Malaysian Insight, but did not provide any numbers to back up his opinion.

In the shelters, residents have to follow a schedule, Teh said.

“They can’t come and go as they please. There isn’t complete freedom, and those who value this would rather live on the streets.”

He said Fong’s constituency office recently conducted a survey together with the Social Welfare Department and they found an increase in the number of middle-aged homeless people (40 to 50 years old), as well as younger adults.

“The number of elderly homeless has remained the same, but due to unemployment, we are seeing more middle-aged people.

“Half of those who are younger homeless people are foreigners who have no work permits or passports, or have overstayed,” said Teh.

He added that Fong’s constituency office will be writing to the Immigration Department soon about the homeless foreigners, as these cases are beyond the jurisdiction of the Social Welfare Department.

“We have received complaints from businesses about homeless foreigners sleeping rough in the back alleys behind stores, and there is concern about crime.

While there are more homeless people now, Teh said Fong’s office cannot solve the problem on its own. Many of the reasons why people are driven to live on the streets are systemic.

It is also hard to find incentives to help some homeless people change their way of life, as not all of them are willing to be helped beyond receiving food aid.

“They get food from many charity groups, and congregate at tourist spots in the city to beg.”

Teh said various charities have offered to arrange for shelter or accommodations for the homeless, but have been rejected.

He reiterated that many still wanted their own freedom to move about, and did not want to be confined to a shelter.

There are other underlying issues, Teh said, and the problem can only be solved if all government agencies work together. – June 26, 2022.