KUCHING, Jan 28: With the setting up of a temporary transit centre for the homeless (TTG) in Sibu, no more homeless individuals should sleep on five-foot ways during the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration, said Minister of Women, Children, and Community Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah.
According to Fatimah, who is representing Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, the government has set up this TTG to ensure that they have a safe place to sleep and a place for them to celebrate festive seasons with other individuals.
“It is a challenge for us. There is no reason for them to be sleeping on the five-foot-way unless they are drunk,” said Fatimah in her speech during the launching ceremony of TTG in Sibu today.
Meanwhile, Fatimah said the government would not provide any more grants to the centre after setting up. However, a one-off grant has also been given to the anchor non-governmental organisation (NGO) to manage the place.
She said it is time for other NGOs to come in and collaborate to ensure the sustainability of the TTG.
“Even though I said that there is no more allocation from the government for the centre, be assured that we will always be there for you,” she added.
Fatimah pointed out that addressing social issues such as homelessness is a collective responsibility, and action needs to be taken to ensure that the operation and intervention programmes can benefit the needy.
She said apart from that, the programmes would also need to be changed if it found to be not suitable, and what is important is that there is an awareness of their (homeless individuals) needs, and remain focused on the objective. — DayakDaily
