To curb the issue of drifters, a one-stop centre (OSC) will be built in Taiping due for operation sometime during July.
According to the Executive Councillor for Women Development, Family and Community Welfare, Datuk Dr Wan Norashikin Wan Noordin, the centre will be able to house around 20 individuals at a time.
“The OSC has been planned following the successful operation of the previous transit centre for the homeless at the Perak Badminton Arena,” she told reporters at the closing ceremony of the transit centre on Friday, June 5.
“Despite the transit centre’s operation in the duration of the Movement Control Order (MCO), solutions to drifters’ issues have been to no avail,” Wan Norashikin lamented. “We need to find other ways to ensure that their future is protected.”
The transit centre was incepted on April 18, which placed 89 drifters as a step from the state government to prevent COVID-19 clusters originating from them.
10 of the drifters have been given jobs. Some were picked up by their families while others are being treated in hospitals or placed in welfare homes.
Wan Noorashikin added that drifters will sharpen their areas of expertise while practicing discipline values and independence when they are placed at the OSC in Taiping.
“Hopefully, we can discuss with relevant authorities to build the OSC as planned to help these drifters in finding suitable jobs,” she expressed.
Rosli Mansor
