KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 ― Putrajaya must allow federal lawmakers to visit its Sungai Buloh detention centre for the homeless as promised by a minister, a DAP MP said today following a report on the plight of inmates there.

Serdang DAP MP Ong Kian Ming alleged that the government has repeatedly ignored his request to view the centre, despite Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri’ Rohani Abdul Karim’s challenge to the opposition on Sunday to visit the Desa Bina Diri centre in a bid to disprove claims that vagrants were held against their will.

“Until today, despite the Minister’s promise in the Star newspaper to welcome us – the opposition parties - to have a look, I have not received any positive response from either the Minister or her private secretary.

“Will the Minister live up to her promise of allowing opposition MPs to visit the Sungai Buloh DBD or will this be another example of a failed promise or janji tidak ditepati by the BN (Barisan Nasional) government?” Ong said in a statement.

Rohani had previously dismissed suggestions that Putrajaya’s plan to round up the city’s homeless and beggars under an operation dubbed “Ops Qaseh” would result in possible human rights abuse.

She also denied rumours that the Desa Bina Diri holding centre was inadequate to house vagrants and rehabilitate them, accusing the opposition of spinning the truth.

This morning, The Malay Mail Online reported of detainees at the centre pleading to be taken out, alleging they were being kept there for no reason.

Some said they were picked up and placed at the holding centre for a month, despite being gainfully employed.

Others complained that they were held for months, with no activities planned or arranged to keep them occupied.

Today, the DAP lawmaker said the visit was crucial to determine the veracity behind complaints that the holding centre was closer to a “cell” than a rehabilitation centre.

He added that more transparency was needed to ensure residents are being given the necessary care to help them transition from homelessness.

“This would include access to mental health care professionals and proper medical treatment where necessary. Whether the residents are being matched with suitable training and jobs, if they are able to work in the first place.

“Whether the residents have help to obtain proper documentation such as Identity Cards, or whether the facilities at this DBD is adequate to house the residents,” he said.

Criticism has mounted over Putrajaya’s plan to clean up the city streets from vagrance with majority of the public blasting its policies as inhumane.

The anti-vagrancy measures included a 2km radius ban on soup kitchens from the city centre, a move Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor said was necessary to maintain “cleanliness”.

But Putrajaya have been forced to delay the ban following public uproar.