A COUPLE has made the corridors of a bank in Jalan 1/19, Petaling Jaya, their home for the past three years.
A 32-year-old property executive, who does not want to be named, said they slept along the bank’s corridor and would start drinking beer as early as 8.30am.
She said the couple would have their bath at the back of the a fast-food restaurant.
“How is it possible for one to live in such a condition and why isn’t anyone taking any action?” she asked.
A Chinese Medical Hall owner also confirmed that the couple was homeless and had been living there for the past three years.
Homeless: Sriranjini talking to her husband Ananda along the bank’s corridor in Jalan 1/19, Petaling Jaya. “One of the vagrants would walk in to our store to buy liquor and when he is drunk we will ask him to leave.
“But he ends up quarelling with us because he can’t get what he wants,” said the businessman in his 40s, adding that people sometimes give money to the vagrants, but it is only spent on beer and liquor.
The woman, Sriranjini Muniandi, 29, collected carboard boxes and sold them to a nearby shop at 40 sen each.
Sriranjini said her house in Section 1 had been destroyed in a fire and she and her husband were forced to take refuge near the bank.
The man, Ananda Krishnan Adakkalam, said they had sought the Welfare Services Department for assistance.
“I have three children, aged four, three and two years and have sent them to the Petaling Jaya Welfare Services Department,” he said, showing the couple’s identification cards.
“I used to be a butcher at a nearby market, but my boss died,” said Ananda.
“All I want now is a room for my wife and I to live in. If anyone offers us a place to stay, we will be ready to move in,” he said in a desperate tone, adding that the couple made a living from selling cardboard boxes and plastic items and also received donations from people.
Petaling Jaya Welfare Services Department district officer Sunarni Mastury said the department had helped the couple by providing financial assistance after the couple’s home was destroyed in a fire.
“We managed to get a job for Ananda and the employer also provided the couple a room to stay.
“But the couple moved out even before Ananda received his first pay cheque,” Sunarni said, adding that the couple’s two children are under the care of the department.
“We also took him to the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MBPJ) and helped him to apply for a council home with the condition that Ananda should pay a minimum monthly fee,” said Sunarni.
However, Sunarni added that the department could provide the assistance needed, but Ananda had to show some effort and interest.
“It is not easy to find a job these days and when the job is there, one should make an effort to keep it,” she said.
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