KL's Homeless Given Temporary Shelter To Keep Them Safe From COVID-19 During MCO

According to Bernama, KL mayor Datuk Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan said that the homeless are temporarily being sheltered in two transit centres and four community halls around Kuala Lumpur.

"We will continue looking for them in the capital and saving them throughout the MCO. Some are in hiding to protect against COVID-19," he told reporters after visiting one of the community centres in Sentul Perdana yesterday, 1 April.

He added that they have to go through COVID-19 testing before they are placed, and so far no one has tested positive.

They are going to centres based on whether they are healthy; have issues such as a communicable disease, mental illness, and drug abuse; or non-citizens.

Besides the homeless transit centre in Jalan Pahang and Anjung Singgah, Malay Mail reported there are also four community halls that have been turned into temporary shelters, namely in Sentul Perdana, Setiawangsa, Alam Damai Cheras, and Tasik Ampang Hilir.

"The healthy are being housed at the Sentul Perdana community centre and Tasik Ampang Hilir multipurpose hall with 181 and 62 people each," the mayor said.

Meanwhile, about 95 people with various issues are being housed in the Setiawangsa community centre, and 30 non-citizens in Alam Damai Cheras.

Yayasan Kebajikan Negara has also taken in 99 men at the Jalan Pahang transit centre, and 43 men and women, including three children, at Anjung Singgah.

Nor Hisham said non-governmental organisations are welcome to contribute to these shelters but they must get the help of the Welfare Department (JKM) and follow the National Security Council's standard operating procedure.

He added that food distribution in Medan Tuanku for the needy is on hold at the moment because it is usually done in a group and they "want to maintain social distancing" for now.