KOTA KINABALU: The state government must explain the continued presence of stateless children begging along main roads in the state capital, despite an allocation of RM250,000 meant to address the issue.
Api Api assemblyman Loi Kok Liang said the problem, mainly involving displaced Palauh children, remains unresolved despite assurances given in 2022 to resolve it by setting up temporary centres at a cost of RM50,000 per affected district.
“What is the status of the RM250,000 allocation approved in 2022 to address the issue of Palauh children or stateless minors who continue to beg around Kota Kinabalu City?
“These children are still seen at traffic lights near Wawasan Plaza, Wisma Merdeka, and the Post Office, begging from motorists. They are also wandering and sleeping outside shopping centres such as Centre Point, Suria Sabah, Sembulan, Gaya Street, Segama, Sinsuran, and Kampung Air.
“This situation should not be happening after all the assurances given to resolve it. This reflects a poor image of Kota Kinabalu that sees so many foreign tourists,” he said in a statement Sunday (Dec 28).
Loi said the issue had been raised during the State Legislative Assembly sitting, but the state has yet to respond.
He said the initiative was expected to be managed by the government through the Welfare Services Department, with assistance from local authorities.
“There seem to be no updates on the operations of such temporary shelters for the children,” he said.
It was previously reported that a pilot shelter was set up in Kota Kinabalu in 2023, and former state Community Development and People's Well-being Minister Datuk James Ratib said there were plans to expand to Sandakan and Tawau.
The temporary shelter was meant to provide special training on basic living skills for rescued children, mainly from the sea gypsy community whose traditional lifestyle involves living on boats along the coast and islands.
However, after the initial pilot project, the state has yet to announce any fresh initiatives, though James had indicated that more guidelines were needed from state and federal governments in handling stateless children.
