Kota Kinabalu: Feeling unloved and uncared for by their families is the reason some individuals prefer to be homeless.Sleeping on cardboard boxes on pavements, under building staircases and on public benches in the city centre, their life is one far from comfort but a decision they felt was best for them.A newcomer to the "community" Jainal Nasip Ondog, 68, from Kg Tambalugu, Tuaran, started living on the streets three weeks ago. His reason was because he could no longer face the absence of all his four children.
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He claimed none of them returned home the last five years."I feel so lonely at home. My children never returned to see me. They also never called although I have a handphone.
It hurts so much," he said.He claimed to have no other immediate family members as all his siblings have passed on.
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"I felt unwanted in my village. But here in the city, I have friends. Although I often go hungry, I find peace of heart in their company," he added.Jainal used to be a taxi driver but decided to quit as he could not afford to pay the RM30 daily rental.
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He then became a cobbler.Recently, his shoe repair equipment was confiscated by City Hall enforcement personnel for not complying with regulations at the Deasoka area. "I feel depressed because they took away my equipment," he said.He was one of those that Kota Kinabalu Umno Youth reached out to as part of its activity during the month of Ramadan."We feel that the homeless are also special people," said its chief Mohd Bahrin Abd Karim. The programme was implemented jointly with the City Hall and the Welfare Services Department."After talking to them, I realised that many of them had been neglected by their families," he said.
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He said the movement would try to help them by working with other relevant departments and agencies."We help by identifying what made them to live in the streets and refer them to the relevant departments and agencies," he said.
