JKM SEEKS TEMPORARY CUSTODY ORDER FOR FRAIL HOMELESS WOMAN 

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 8 (Bernama) -- A frail elderly woman with no place to live will be brought to court to obtain a temporary custody order, according to the Social Welfare Department (JKM).  

In a statement today, JKM said the order, under Section 3(2) of the Destitute Persons Act 1977 (Act 183), is for her temporary placement at Rumah Seri Kenangan (RSK) Seremban for one month.  

“During this period, JKM will trace her next of kin, conduct further health checks, arrange placement, and carry out follow-up casework to determine suitable interventions and actions for her welfare,” the statement said.  

JKM said its officers acted swiftly to assist the woman after a social media post showed her wandering around Lorong Haji Taib, Kuala Lumpur, reportedly homeless.  

According to JKM, a report was received last Monday and the woman, a Malaysian citizen, was rescued on the same day.  

“Initial investigations found that the woman was in frail condition and unable to walk on her own, requiring a wheelchair for mobility. It is understood that she had previously been cared for by a friend, but was left alone since last week,” the statement said.  

To ensure her safety, JKM said she was taken to the Kuala Lumpur Health Clinic for a medical examination and her condition was found to be stable.  

“However, the clinic could not verify the status of the tuberculosis she previously suffered from, as she is a follow-up patient at the Institute of Respiratory Medicine (IPR),” the statement added.  

JKM said she was brought to RSK for temporary 24-hour care after the examination and placed separately from other residents for preventive and health control purposes.  

The next day, she was taken to the IPR for further confirmation, and examination results showed she had recovered clinically, though she still requires periodic follow-up treatment.  

JKM also urged the public to channel any information on welfare-related cases through official channels such as Talian Kasih 15999, WhatsApp 019-2615999, email pro_jkm@jkm.gov.my, or by visiting the nearest state or district welfare office to ensure swift action can be taken. 

-- BERNAMA