PARLIAMENT | A total of 3,040 homeless persons have been rescued by the Social Welfare Department in 1,805 operations nationwide until November 2017, according to Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Azizah Mohd Dun.

Azizah told the Dewan Rakyat today that 455 of them were foreigners while 2,585 were locals.

She said the operation led by the Social Welfare Department was a concerted action with other government agencies, such as the police and the National Registration Department.

According to her, the rescued homeless persons would then be screened for further action.

Azizah said that under the operation, rescued foreigners would be handed over to the Immigration Department for follow-up action, while local citizens under 60 years without next-of-kin would be taken to Desa Bina Diri.

"Those over 60 years will be sent to Rumah Seri Kenangan," she  said in a question-and-answer session at Dewan Rakyat.

She was replying to a question from Koh Nai Kwong (BN-Alor Gajah) who wanted to know how to reduce panhandling activities, as the Social Welfare Department already gave financial aid to the needy.

- Bernama