whole world should take note of this fact.
Many were cheated by their employers. This is routine treatment to all
workers in the whole of Malaysia that share similar laws and their
enforcement,
which made Malaysia, especially Sabah, the worst in Human Trafficking
i.e. SLAVERY.
http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=70825
We've been proven right!
Published on: Friday, February 19, 2010
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Kota Kinabalu: A Daily Express check in Kuala Lumpur confirmed many
homeless and jobless Sabahans there. They are mostly from rural areas
and depending on charitable organisations for survival.
This reporter met about 15 Sabahans and three Sarawakians who turned
up at the Archdiocesan Office for Human Development (AHOD) at Jalan
Bukit Nenas, Kuala Lumpur, last Friday.
AHOD, the official arm of the Catholic Church (in the Archdiocese of
Kuala Lumpur) is among non-governmental organisations providing free
food for the homeless in the nation's capital.
Officer-in-charge of AHOD, Carl D'Cunha, as well as Sabahan priest Fr
Valentine Gompok who is currently serving at the St Francis of Assisi
parish in Cheras, helped to arrange the meeting.
Also present was Anita Sani from Persatuan Momogun Malaysia who said
she would submit a report to the relevant authorities in Sabah for
further action.
Daily Express had on Jan. 18 exposed the presence of quite a number of
young people from East Malaysia, mostly from Sabah, stranded in the
nation's capital, roaming the streets and depending on free meals.
The expose came about following investigative reporting follow-ups
with other NGOs providing similar charitable services there, namely
Kechara Soup Kitchen Society and Street Fellowship at Klang Bus
Station.
Among the Sabahans who identified themselves as homeless were 33-year-
old Apai John from Kg Mantailang, Tenom; Nicklos Jusit (24) from
Kepayan Ridge, Kota Kinabalu; Ramsi Noing (30) from Mile 7, Tinusa 2,
Sandakan; Junik John (21) from Ranau; Mohd Fauzi Mahatin (24) from Kg
Desa Aman, Kundasang; Syukri Ober (24) from Kunak; Bally Balingi (24)
from Kg Paguokon, Tenom; Sahadan Saidin (23) from Anjung Teduh, Felda
Sahabat 1, Lahad Datu; Rejis Jais (24) from Kota Marudu; Hermis Saimin
(19) from Ranau; Martin Majari (35) from Kg Bambangan in Pitas; Abdul
Asintu (30) from Sandakan; and Prislu Sapsin (35) from Beluran.
Another Sabahan from Tambunan turned up for the free meal but declined
to join the meeting. Half of them expressed desire to return to Sabah
when they had the money while the rest hoped to stay on for a while to
see if their fortunes improved.
The Sarawakians who joined in included a 17-year-old girl Angira ak
Dolkit from Kampung Serikin in Bau; Ritzman G. Clerk (38) from Sri
Aman and Seling ak Dian from Kapit. They said they slept anywhere that
was comfortable.
According to Carl, AHOD looks into the food aspects of about 30 or so
young people from East Malaysia.
Apai, considered one of the "seniors", has guided about 15 Sabahans
who he found stranded in various parts of KL to places such as AHOD
where they at least get free meals. He admitted being jobless and
homeless in Kuala Lumpur for about four to five years now.
"In Kuala Lumpur, there are many homeless Sabahans, (easily) more than
a hundred and maybe 300 to 400. You can find them in many places like
Masjid India, Daya Bumi, Klang Bus Station and Bukit NenasÉini yang
betul-betul merempat, yang tiada rumah, tiada apa semua (these are
truly homeless, do not have a home, do not have anything at all)," he
said.
According to him, most came to the peninsula following private job
recruitment agents but ended up cheated by these agents or those
employing them. Others followed their Sabahan friends already there,
hoping to find work but after some time either quit due to social
problems.
As for Apai, mixing with the wrong people caused him to be in this
situation. He came to the peninsula about 13 years ago and did various
jobs, including as a security guard, contract worker and factory
worker.
Apai said people like him sleep either along the roadsides, parks or
at buildings like Daya Bumi or the Puduraya bus terminal. He said
although all those from Sabah do not sleep at the same place every
night, their daily routine is similar.
"Normally, we will go to another church near a bus stand in Klang
which is open at about 10am daily and closes at 5pm for our free
morning breakfast and lunch," he said.
After that, he said they would go their separate ways, some to meet
other friends or to look for another place to spend the night.
"Sometimes I will follow friends and look for workÉthis way we can get
part-time jobs. This is routine for us everyday."
Because the charity centres only provide meals during daytime, dinner
requires going to behind fast food outlets, usually KFC, or similar
premise to salvage discarded leftover food they can eat from rubbish
bins.
"We look for any leftover food still eatable that we can find in the
rubbish bins of these premisesÉkira okay la, boleh juga (it's okay,
still can)," he said, adding that the homeless people from other
states also do likewise.
However, he said they (homeless, including from different states)
never fight over the leftover food at these premises because "sama-
sama faham (mutually understand each other)".
Apai, whose family once lodged a missing person report back in Tenom,
said for personal hygiene, he would normally go to the nearest mosque
to bathe. When nature calls and if he does not have any money, he will
relieve himself at any secluded place he can find. Admitting it is
hard to be homeless and jobless in the nation's capital without any
place to turn to for assistance, he hoped the Government will help
people like them.
During the meeting, Fr Valentine provided them consultation while
Anita recorded their particulars for further action by the Sabah State
Government. Anita, who is based in Kuala Lumpur, claimed to have been
directed by the authorities in Sabah after Daily Express broke the
story.
She said the directive came after a meeting held a week earlier
involving various parties.
She also took down the particulars of those who wished to return to
Sabah.
Most of those present admitted have been involved in drugs but have
since repented.
Many still had their MyKad with them while a few others were holding
temporary identification documents after losing theirs to snatch
thieves or to former employers.
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