THE establishment of the Pusat Transit Gelandangan (Homeless Transit Centre) in Jalan C.Y. Choy, George Town, is intended strictly as a temporary shelter for the homeless and not as long-term accommodation, says Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Chow (PH-Padang Kota) clarified the centre’s purpose following a question from Ong Ah Teong (PH–Batu Lancang) during the State Legislative Assembly sitting today. The issue was raised after state Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim (PH–Sungai Pinang) responded to Ong’s oral and supplementary questions regarding the centre’s operations.
“Although it is just a transit centre, clients are allowed to stay for a maximum of 14 days. During this period, the centre offers various forms of assistance, including job matching,” Chow said.
He added that if any party wishes to provide further help, the clients may be placed in old folks’ homes, subject to eligibility.
Ong had earlier asked for a detailed financial report, including monthly revenue, operating costs, staff salaries, and the number of homeless individuals currently being housed or assisted at the centre.
In response, Lim revealed that the centre, managed by the state Welfare Department, currently employs seven staff members. Since its official opening in September 2023 until April 2025, it has received 498 individuals, of whom 151 have successfully secured jobs as security guards, lorry drivers, cooks, and general workers.
Lim also provided a breakdown of the centre’s expenditure for 2024, which totalled RM532,519.78. This included:
- RM246,830.60 for salaries, allowances, and incentives
- RM158,189 for security services
- RM93,332.56 for cleaning and maintenance contracts, including repairs of fire extinguishers, the CCTV system, and the fire pump
- RM34,167.62 for office management expenses such as the purchase of goods, office supplies, utility bills, rental payments, and raw materials.
Responding to a supplementary question from Ong on bed occupancy, Lim said the centre has 78 beds and that usage varies, with clients coming and going at different times.
She also shared that the centre is supported by over 400 strategic partners, including Mutiara Food Bank, which donates food supplies.
Lim then invited Ong and other assemblymen to visit the centre for a better understanding of its daily operations. She shared photographs of two homeless individuals rescued during a recent operation.
“There is no country in this world that is without homeless people,” she said. “We gave them a bath and a haircut. One of them secured a job as a security guard … look how handsome he is now,” she added, drawing laughter from the chamber.
The Q&A session between Lim and Ong today was notably more cordial compared to the previous day’s proceedings, during which both were involved in a heated exchange over a leaked reply uploaded online prematurely.
Tensions eased when Ong later apologised and retracted his comments, allowing the session to continue smoothly.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad