Kota Kinabalu: Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Sabin Samitah assured again that City Hall will work with police to ensure incidents involving street kids do not recur.
He said it is still waiting for a report from police on a viralled video which showed a group of palau (sea gypsy) children dashing about, including throwing objects that could damage the windscreens of passing motorists.
The incident happened a stone’s throw from the City Hall building.
“We view the incident seriously and will ensure it does not repeat. In fact, both City Hall and police have scheduled patrols at several locations, such as the Waterfront and market area to ensure it is safe for the public,” he said. “We leave it to the police to take action.”
Despite repeated public complaints, these immigrants also continue to gather at traffic lights and knock on the windows of waiting cars to beg.
One member of the public was shocked that even babies were being used to solicit for money.
Kota Kinabalu Police Chief ACP Kasim Muda said patrols would be intensified in areas frequented by street kids.
Police would also extend their Ops Payung at hotspots and deploy mobile patrol vehicles (MPV) and motorcycle patrol units (URB) at these locations.
Kasim said walkabouts would also be conducted with other agencies, including Immigration, City Hall, auxiliary police, the Sabah Social Welfare Department and the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela).
Kasim said the viral video on May 4 showed a misunderstanding between two groups of street children.
In the 32-second video, one group of children stood in front of the general market, while the other gathered at a nearby small roundabout.
Several children were seen running toward their opponents armed with sticks with no regard for passing vehicles while they chased each other.
Motorists and motorcyclists were forced to stop to prevent knocking them down.
The children also threw sticks at each other, with one nearly hitting a car parked in front of the general market.
