MIRI: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) state government is committed to ensuring the welfare of homeless persons are being taken care of.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Sri Fatimah Abdullah said one of the efforts towards this end was to establish Temporary Transit Centres (TTC) to accommodate these people.
She explained that with the establishment of such centres, the homeless and vagabonds would not have to sleep along five-foot ways.
“The TTCs would be an avenue for them to sleep and clean themselves,” she asserted.
Fatimah added that a decision to use former Public Works Department Miri building along Jalan Kubu here, as a centre to accommodate homeless people would be known in two weeks time.
She said, as the site belonged to Samling Group, they would have to wait for their decisions before the building could be transformed into a TTC for this division.
“This morning, I met with Samling Group director to discuss further on the matter, and we are looking forward for a fruitful outcome,” she said after presenting Chinese New Year goodies to 100 underprivileged persons during a ‘Sejambak Kasih’ programme here on Wednesday (Jan 19).
The programme was held in conjunction with the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration in collaboration with Dynasty Hotel Miri and Sarawak Welfare Department.
Each recipient was given a hamper worth at RM150 and RM100 cash.
The Sarawak Welfare Department has allocated RM268,050 to be distributed to 695 eligible recipients in Miri this year.
Fatimah disclosed that the 595 eligible recipients who were not selected to attend today’s Sejambak Kasih would receive RM100 cash credited directly into their respective accounts before the Chinese New Year celebration.
Also present at the event were Pujut assemblyman cum Miri mayor Adam Yii, Miri division Resident Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf and director of Sarawak Welfare department Noriah Ahmad.
