Homeless folk talk about estranged family ties

OSCAR Yanson, 49, stood out among the many homeless loitering in Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur, due to his Caucasian look.

He claimed to have been sleeping in the city streets since 2019, after his belongings and passport were stolen.

He identified himself as a Russian, but said it was not his birth country.

Yanson claims to have lost his passport in 2019 and has been living on the streets since then.

“I originated from Latvia where I started working as an independent missionary, often travelling to many locations.

“Some years back, I moved to Russia to continue my work, where I applied for and was granted a citizenship.

“However, after a conflict between my two countries, Latvia revoked my citizenship, leaving me only with my Russian citizenship,” he claimed.

Yanson then moved to South-East Asia to further his work, frequently travelling between Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.

After losing his travel document, he went to the Russian Embassy, and was told to return to Russia and apply for another passport.

“But I don’t want to go to Russia, I want to go back to Latvia, my mother is waiting for me.

“For the time being, I live around the Central Market area where many non-governmental organisations distribute food daily,” he said.

Yanson’s illegal status made it difficult for him to earn an income and support himself.

“I take up menial jobs such as cleaning at nearby premises, but I am often cheated or paid very little.

“When I complained, I was told to keep quiet or risk being reported for staying in Malaysia illegally,” he said.

Yanson was among 30 homeless people who were met during a food aid programme by Care Shelter Kuala Lumpur last month.

Ten volunteers, who represented the shelter, interviewed and recorded the details of the homeless and distributed packed meals to them.

Lim See Leok, 53, recalled coming to Kuala Lumpur from his hometown in Kodiang, Kedah, to work as a construction worker.

Like his co-workers from other states, he thought it was the start of a new life in the capital, back when the economy was better.

But his contract expired just as job opportunities were drying up, leaving Lim without an income to support himself.

(From left) Sundrasen and Lim sleep on a cardboard box in Jalan Tun Perak with other homeless individuals.

That marked the beginning of his homeless situation, which saw him loitering the Central Market area daily for shelter and food.

“I had a wife, but she died a few years ago. We didn’t have children, so now I am all alone,” he said.

The ninth of 12 siblings said he no longer went back to his hometown, not even during festive seasons.

“I used to visit when my mother was alive. Now that she’s gone, I don’t have the heart to go back.

“My siblings are still living there, but I don’t want to be a burden to them,” he said.

When met by StarMetro, he was sleeping on a cardboard box at a five-foot-way in Jalan Tun Perak.

His acquaintance K. Sundrasen, 49, had cut off all contact with his family members in his hometown in Ipoh, Perak.

The last of four siblings admitted to not feeling welcomed by his family due to his poor financial status.

“Even when I was hospitalised six months ago due to a foot injury, none of them came to visit me.

“Perhaps it’s best if I stay away and not mingle with them anymore,” he said, adding that he had been homeless for a decade.

Sundrasen had been hauled up during operations by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) but kept coming back to the streets.

“It’s not comfortable living out here, but where else can I go with no money or job?

“I used to work as a security guard, but I can no longer do that since I started having chest pains,” he added. – By FARID WAHAB