Youths offer comfort to KL’s homeless

Apr 22, 2016

KUALA LUMPUR: While most were winding down in the comfort of their homes after yet another intensely hot day, a group of mostly young people gathered at a corner outside Central Market at 9pm last Wednesday, Apr 13. It was the starting point of their mission to feed and interact with the homeless who are spread out in the dark streets of Kuala Lumpur including the cultural hub surrounding the Central Market.

Some 180 volunteers, including a handful of foreigners, turned up in support of the programme by a nongovernmental organisation Street Feeders of KL, started by 28-year old Gary Liew, a film producer.

Joining the team this time was the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Rev Julian Leow, who wanted to witness and participate in the programme, initiated by the young people who came from different backgrounds.

New volunteers that night were pleasantly surprised to learn that food and essentials were not the only items distributed to those living on the streets. There were also generous amounts of handshakes and hugs exchanged with those who possess practically nothing but a cardboard to sleep on under the warm, dark sky.

But more importantly, the volunteers, led by Gary, sat down to listen to their stories, about their day; their challenges and also how they ended up without a home.

Their stories were colourful. Some related how they were employed in the past but fell off the grid when they became ill and couldn’t work anymore.

Without family support, they found it hard to get back on their feet again and had no choice but to sleep on pavements.

The homeless of Kuala Lumpur can be categorised into distinct groups: the long term stayers, the on-off visitors and the job seekers from out of town.

In his 50s, Mr Azman, considers the square outside the National Mosque his home now.

He told the Archbishop how he was employed in the hotel sector but fell ill a couple of years ago and could not continue working.

He now seeks regular treatment at the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital but has not been able to find any alternative employment given his poor health.

Meanwhile, not far away from the National Mosque, near St John’s Cathedral, 65-year old Mr Amran, who has been living on the streets for 40 years, was overwhelmed to see Gary and greeted the young man with a warm hug.

Amran had known the film producer since Gray was a teenager, who used to hang around his mother who then ran Carl’s Kitchen in Bukit Nanas.

He related to the Archbishop how it was tiring for him to carry his possessions on his back, adding that it was not a problem 20 years ago as all he needed then was a piece of paper to sleep on.

“But now as I get older, I need more things to get by. So I am really hoping for some mobile lockers to be able to put my things down and off my back,” he said, before rushing off to take a bath at the mobile shower provided by the NGO.

When he heard that the Archbishop was nearby Mr Amran ran across the street, while running a comb through his hair, to hug Julian and said: I am truly honoured to meet you. I will remember this day forever.”

Gary, who started this initiative with a few friends five years ago, is a common face in the street corners along the banks of the Klang river in downtown KL.

The young lad said that his mission was more than just feeding the homeless, but to also give them the emotional and moral support they yearned for.

“They come from different backgrounds and need different things; for instance, Uncle Amran, he just needs a place to put his backpack down.

He added that this was the reason they spent time interacting with the streeters and wherever possible, endeavour to get them off living on the streets by trying to find them decent-paying jobs.

“Some of them who live here have day jobs but can’t afford to rent a place to stay. So we are here to talk to them and see how we can make their lives better,” he added.

Regular volunteer, Joanna Gonsalvez, said that she was happy to have found a way to give back to society.

She also said that feeding the homeless has helped her become a better person and urged others to try it just once.

“I feel that it is not only me doing them a favour, they are also helping me by making me value what I have and not to take things for granted,” the 21-year old university student said.

Now with better organisation, the group, which meets at Central Market to feed about 400 homeless on the first and third Wednesday of the month at 9pm, covers five main routes, with Masjid Negara and Dataran Merdeka touted as the more ‘scenic.’

Four other teams collectively cover Bangkok Bank, Masjid India, Masjid Jamek (longest route), Central Market to Menara Maybank, Segi College area ( highest concentration of homeless) as well as Chinatown and the Undergrounds (for a varied experience on how the homeless make do).

After spending three hours observing how the volunteers show their care for the homeless, the Archbishop said he was inspired by the enthusiasm of the youth to encounter the homeless and the concern shown to the street dwellers through their conversations and friendships.

The Archbishop added that it was a call to reflect and question why there were street dwellers and what we could do to help.

“How can I help take one person off the streets, be reunited with their family, find a job, pay the rent, discover their dignity, satisfy their hunger?

“To all the incredible people I met on this night, my utmost admiration and respect for you and for reminding me that there is still hope for humanity. There is still caring and sharing, there is still selflessness, goodness and hope for us. Let us love one another as God loves us”. -- By Jennifer Gomez