(Miri, 15th) The frequent appearance of homeless people on the streets of Miri city center not only reflects the government's neglect of vulnerable groups, but also causes inconvenience to the daily life of citizens.
Sarawak DAP Secretary Alan Ling has extended help to the homeless multiple times, including funding medical treatment and providing basic food, and strives to assist them in obtaining the welfare they deserve. However, relying solely on individuals or groups cannot fundamentally solve the problem; the government has the responsibility to provide basic living guarantees for every citizen of Sarawak.
He regretfully stated that after repeatedly reporting this issue to the welfare department, the same excuse of "no shelter" is always received. More concerningly, Welfare Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah had promised a temporary shelter to be completed by mid-2024, which has yet to be seen.
He said that as a government that often claims to prioritize Sarawak, there has been no effective strategy or policy for the homeless issue over the years. He strongly urges the government to immediately address the issue of accommodating the homeless, as homelessness occurs frequently in cities other than Miri in Sarawak.
"The government should stop blindly pursuing 'grand' projects and return to being people-oriented, prioritizing the most basic needs of clothing, food, housing, and transportation for the people."
The prosperity of Sarawak should not be built on the neglect of vulnerable groups. He calls on the government to expedite the implementation of plans to accommodate the homeless and to establish a cross-departmental cooperative mechanism to effectively solve this social problem, creating a safer and more harmonious living environment for all people in Sarawak.