A THREE-hour operation by the state Social Welfare Department and other relevant agencies saw 46 vagrants, including an elderly woman, being rounded up in George Town.
Two illegal immigrants were also picked up by the Social Welfare Department, police, RELA and the Immigration Department personnel during the operation which started at 2am.
Most of the vagrants were fast asleep when they were approached by some 30 personnel who joined the operation around Komtar, Prangin Mall, Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling and the Esplanade.
Nowhere to call home: Zulkifli checking on a vagabond found sleeping on the floor at the Komtar bus interchange State Social Welfare Department director Zulkifli Ismail said the operation yesterday was held to clear vagrants off the streets of Penang which is a tourist destination.
“Their presence would tarnish the state’s image.
The vagrants being herded into a van “Furthermore, their predicament also has to be looked into and our department will try to contact their families to take them back home,” he said.
He added that those who had no family would be placed in welfare shelters and homes.
Zulkifli said those without identification cards on them would be referred to the National Registration Department and the illegal immigrants would be sent to the Immigration Department for further action.
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