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Last week, a video went viral showing a homeless man sleeping outside the Taman Maluri branch of AmBank in Kuala Lumpur. In the clip, a security guard poured water over him, jolting him awake. Another man reportedly kicked him to force him off the bank’s walkway.
The backlash was immediate and furious. Social media erupted with condemnation. Malaysians from all walks of life decried the act as cruel and inhumane. AmBank issued an apology, emphasizing that everyone representing the bank - even external contractors - is expected to behave humanely. NGOs quickly stepped in to help the man, providing shelter, food, and clothes.
And yes, my heart sank watching that video. I felt anger, shame, and sorrow. But let’s be honest: how many times have we walked past a homeless person and done nothing? It’s not our problem, so why bother, right? The thing is, it’s easy to be empathetic when the situation is someone else’s.
I know this because I’ve seen it in my own city. A few months ago, in the Chowrasta area of Penang, I witnessed a homeless man relieving himself in front of a store late at night. I'm sure the owner would be outraged, having to clean up the mess the next day.
Imagine if it were your store - or worse, your home. Imagine homeless people sleeping in front of your house day in and day out. You try to get rid of them, but there’s still no way. What would you do?
I want to be clear: I am not defending the guard, or anyone who mistreats a human being. That was wrong, and it deserved condemnation. But this situation exposes a recurring, uncomfortable truth: homelessness isn’t solved by outrage or punishment. It’s a societal problem with no easy fixes.
The problem is bigger than we think. Even with shelters, some homeless people still prefer to sleep outside. Walkways, streets, bridges - they occupy public spaces because there’s no system that truly accommodates them.
So how do we stop it without criminalising or humiliating them? Without infringing on their dignity?
This has been a long-standing issue, yet what have the authorities done to manage it effectively?
If we want to backlash someone, maybe we should direct some of that outrage at those responsible for public policy and urban management, rather than only at the guard or the bank.
On my recent trip to Sydney, I witnessed the homeless problem in big cities firsthand. Unlike the homeless in our country, some of the people there seemed to behave as if they had all the rights to be homeless. They sat on old queen-sized mattresses right in the walkways of big malls, with boards that read: “Feed me.” If we do not address our own homeless problem properly, it could spiral into something similar.
The reality is simple: people do not belong on the street. No one should urinate, defecate or sleep on walkways. Whether they like it or not, homeless people must be compelled to empty the streets at night and sleep in shelters. No one can refuse to be part of society.
Like it or not, homeless people are part of society, and must observe social conduct.
The solution requires multi-layered approaches: shelters and social services that are accessible and dignified, proper waste management in public spaces, and clear protocols for business owners and staff.
Security guards and store owners cannot, and should not, bear the responsibility alone. Empathy matters, yes, but it must be paired with systemic solutions that address poverty, mental health struggles, and social neglect.
The AmBank case is a reminder of what happens when empathy without strategy collides with reality. If we want less viral outrage and more human dignity, we need to think beyond the water hose and ask: What do we do when homelessness becomes everyone’s problem, and not just someone else’s?
Fa Abdul (fa.abdul.penang@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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