SANDAKAN: Chasing homeless people from one public area to another will not solve the issue, but merely shift the problem elsewhere, said Karamunting Assemblyman Alex Wong.
He questioned where homeless individuals were expected to go if they were repeatedly removed from public spaces without an alternative place to stay.
“If they are chased away from here, where are they supposed to go?” he asked.
Alex said the recurring presence of homeless people around Sandakan town highlighted the need for a more structured and humane approach rather than relying solely on enforcement or moving them on.
He raised the matter after recently conducting a ground visit with his service team to several locations within the Karamunting constituency, accompanied by three police officers.
During the visit, he received complaints from traders and residents about homeless people who were said to have been staying in the area for a considerable period, with some expressing concerns over disturbances to the surrounding environment and business activities.
Alex said he understood the concerns of traders and residents, particularly in areas where public spaces and business premises were affected.
However, he said repeatedly moving homeless people from one location to another would only result in the same individuals appearing elsewhere.
“Today we chase them away from one place, and tomorrow they may appear somewhere else. So, how long are we going to keep repeating this?” he said.
He therefore proposed that the State Government, through the relevant departments and agencies, study the establishment of a shelter or temporary accommodation centre for homeless people in Sandakan.
According to Alex, such a facility could provide immediate shelter while giving welfare authorities an opportunity to understand the circumstances of those affected.
He said individuals could be assessed based on their respective backgrounds and needs, allowing the relevant agencies to determine whether they required welfare assistance, family intervention, employment support or other forms of assistance.
“Homeless people are human beings too. They need attention and assistance. If they have nowhere to go, simply chasing them away is not a long-term solution,” he said.
Alex acknowledged that the presence of homeless people in business areas and public spaces could raise concerns over cleanliness, safety and the overall image of Sandakan.
Nevertheless, he said these concerns should be addressed alongside efforts to provide assistance to those without a place to call home.
“We want a clean and orderly town, but we also need to think about how we can help them. With a shelter in place, both issues can be addressed in a more systematic manner,” he said.
Alex said he would bring the proposal to the attention of the State Government and hoped the relevant authorities would examine a suitable mechanism to address homelessness in Sandakan.
He stressed that the issue could not be resolved by any single agency and required cooperation between welfare authorities, the local council, police and other relevant agencies.
“We do not want this issue to become a cycle; they are chased away, move elsewhere and then reappear in another location.
“We need to find a proper solution that not only keeps public areas orderly, but also helps those who have nowhere else to go,” he said.