State gov't moves on Sabahans stranded in KL
The Sabah government is finally moving on the long-standing problem of jobless and homeless Sabahans stranded in Kuala Lumpur.
They were apparently lured from the comforts of home by a rosy picture of life in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore and the exciting nightlife and entertainment scene.
Chief Minister Musa Aman has directed Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Azizah Mohd Dun and Resource Development and Information technology Minister Dr Yee Moh Chai to assess the situation in KL and report back to the state cabinet.
The state's initiative comes in the wake of complaints by local NGOs that they had received disturbing feedback from their counterparts in Kuala Lumpur.
The exact number of stranded Sabahans is unknown except that it is growing.
"It is important that we get the true picture before deciding on the next course of action," said Azizah. "We will find out how they got there, what happened and why they are in such a situation now."
She expressed dismay over reports of jobless Sabahans even reduced to begging for food in the streets.
Student Job centre in the offing
One proposal that Azizah's (left) ministry is toying with is the setting up of a Job Centre at the state government-owned Sabah House in KL.
The centre is also expected to assist Sabah students there who wish to take up part-time jobs to ease their financial burden.
"We will hold a meeting at Sabah House before the end of this month," confirmed Assistant Resource Development and Information Technology Minister Jainab Ahmad.
Representatives from the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) will also be at the meeting to assist them, he said.
The state minister added that the authorities will help those stranded to return home if they want to.
"The government hopes to work together with the Labour Department in KL to help resolve the problem of stranded Sabahans."
Preliminary information pieced together by the state suggests that these Sabahans had fallen victim to so-called employment agencies which took them to Kuala Lumpur for hefty fees, even from remote villages, with the promise of lucrative jobs.
Need to weed out illegals paramount
Once the Sabahans were in KL, these agencies did the disappearing trick. There are reports that many even became the victims of vice syndicates and human traffickers.
The fortunate few managed to escape from their tormentors for a life on the streets.
"In the past the state government has always advised those seeking jobs outside the state to be careful of any offers they receive. It's important that they only deal with employment agencies registered with the Labour Department, " said Azizah.
The fear is that there might be many illegal immigrants among those stranded in Kuala Lumpur, claiming to be Sabahans.
Local NGOs say that their reports on the stranded Sabahans come from the Kechara Soup Kitchen Society, AHOD Bukit Nenas in Kuala Lumpur and the Street fellowship at the Klang Bus Station.
This is based on the registration procedures at this NGO.
Kechara also distributes about 700 food packets every week to the homeless and jobless.
Carl, a volunteer at AHOD in Bukit Nenas, was quoted as saying that many of those seeking help at his NGO claimed to be from East Malaysia, especially from Sabah's interior.
"Many have been here for nearly 10 years," said Carl, who didn't give his second name. "All of them do not have money to go back home. Many are even ashamed to go home."
"Eventually, these people from Sabah who find themselves stranded in KL, end up behind bars," observed Yong."Many of them are ill-equipped and unprepared for the risks of working in another place far away from home."
Yong described Sabahans stranded in Kuala Lumpur as generally "lonely and desperate" and castigated the state government for being slow in resolving the problem despite many reminders. Yong was Sabah Chief Minister from May 1996 to May 1998.
MBS gesa Kerajaan Negeri bantu belia terkandas di KL
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