PUTRAJAYA: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is committed to saving homeless people through ‘Ops Qaseh’ but the operation has not started yet, unlike reported in the media.
Its minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said this in refuting media reports that the operation started last night, as a few things needed to be sorted out first by the ministry .
“No one should be living on the street as it invites danger,” she said after chairing a meeting of the Senior Citizens Consultative and Advisory Council, here, yesterday.
Rohani said these people should be at home with their family.
“Home, or as a last resort, they can be at my ministry’s institutions,” she added.
She said the homeless found during “Op Qaseh’ would be screened, whereby the drug addicts among them would be handed over to the National Anti-Drugs Agency, those with mental problems to the
Health Ministry, and foreign migrants to the Immigration Department.
With regard to the homeless elderly, children and disabled, she said they would be sent to the Desa Bina Diri in Sungai Buloh, Selangor to be identified by their closest family members or relatives.
“They will be given training, motivation and counselling before being alllowed to return home when their family comes to claim them and those unclaimed are allowed to stay at the centre for up to
three years and learn various skills.”
Rohani said many individuals who lived on the streets had jobs but could not afford to pay for accommodation.
“We will refer them to Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and
Local Government Ministry to assist them,” she added. — Bernama