Dept urged to place destitute man at old folks home

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Randi (left) and Wilson call on the authorities to help George get proper care.

Randi (left) and Wilson call on the authorities to help George get proper care.

MIRI: The Welfare Department is urged to take under its care a vagrant destitute man who roams the town looking for meals at funerals and money during church services and is a diabetic without proper medical care and diet.

Mentally-retarded George Frances @ John Vincent, of Kampung Tunku Abdul Rahman, 65, walks several kilometres each day looking for his next meal.

He lives in a stinking, windowless, two by three metre structure he calls home, separated from the family of his late brother who died several years ago. He also survives on handouts from his sister-in-law’s family who has been ordered to leave by the landlord.

Pemanca Wilson Siang Lim called on the authorities to take action in providing better care and attention to George under the roof of the Old Folks Home (Rumah Seri Kenangan).

“Please take pity on him. He is wandering around, begging for food at gatherings of families of the deceased keeping vigil, begging for money at church services, and is getting older and more vulnerable,” he said.

He said although members of the public were generous with handouts, it would not solve the problem of his need for a long-term proper care and medical attention.

Penghulu Randi Elon concurred, saying that action should be taken before any misfortune befalls this elderly man who could endanger himself or members of the public on the busy roads.

“He would walk long distance to the home of a family keeping vigil in Lambir, for example, during the day looking for food and also ask for money from parishioners during church services.

He said George’s diabetic condition, without proper care and diet, could have disastrous consequences. This was so when combined with his squalid living space and failure to bathe and wearing unclean clothes daily.

Miri City Caring Society highlighted George’s plight in September last year. Obstetrician and gynaecologist consultant Dr Roland Dom Mattu diagnosed him as diabetic with signs of complications that needed proper medical care and social support. Worried village chief Mawan Lalen said the authorities should recognise the fact that George could not take proper care of himself, living in an unhygienic place and without proper meals.

“He would definitely be better off at the old folks home which could give proper care to him,” he said. Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat had earlier asked the Welfare Department to consider sending the destitute man to the old folks home to give him a better quality of life.