The Johor Bahru City Council’s (MBJB) held its full council meeting on the 26 June, chaired by the MBJB Mayor Dato’ Haji Adib Azhari bin Daud who shared the latest updates on the city’s upcoming steps on addressing the homeless people in its jurisdiction.
To come up with a holistic solution to the homeless predicament, the city will be building a Transit Center at Taman Larkin Perdana. The center will be a 2-storey building complete with office space, treatment room, living room, dining area, infirmary and a surau.
“The transit center is designed to accommodate a total of 200 homeless people at one time. Construction of the building is expected to commence in August 2021 and should be completed by July 2022,” said the Mayor.
The latest statistics of homelessness in MBJB jurisdiction that have been registered with the Malaysian Red Crescent is a total of 229 people. Currently, existing shelters such as Anjung Singgah in Taman Nong Chik and Pusat Perlindungan Wanita in Taman Perling can accommodate 38 people and 120 people respectively.
MBJB will also spend around RM103,600 on a monthly basis and RM35,000 on a one-off basis to assist homeless people who will be placed in Pusat Perlindungan Wanita in Taman Perling. The costs include the provision of meals and drink three times a day, self -cleaning equipment, bed sheets, pillowcases and towels, staff daily allowances and other costs for daily operation.
