KUALA LUMPUR: Singapore Manpower Ministry (MOM) has met Shahruddin Hael Helmy Mohd Noh over his claim that more than 100 Malaysians with work pass holders in Singapore were living on the streets in the republic as they could not afford to rent a room or a bed.
In a statement today, the ministry said it had engaged Shahruddin on Nov 23 and 27 following the New Straits Times' report over the matter on Nov 22 to get information so it could provide necessary assistance to these workers.
"However, he was unable to provide information such as specific names and contact details of the homeless Malaysian workers he claimed to have encountered," said the statement.
He admitted that he never spoke directly to any of these workers and cannot confirm if they were indeed homeless, MOM stated.
The Singapore Government has an Inter-Agency Taskforce comprising officers from MOM, the Social and Family Development Ministry, and the Singapore Police Force.
MOM said the Taskforce conducts routine inspections and checks across the island and any rough sleepers found would be referred to the relevant agencies for assistance.
"As part of these routine checks, officers visited various locations island-wide late into the night on Nov 26, including the places listed by Shahruddin.
"However, we did not find any work pass holders sleeping on the streets.
"Persons found sleeping in the open, including work pass holders, are rendered assistance," it said.
Their employer, MOM said, would be asked to provide lodging immediately or the Migrant Workers' Centre (MWC) would house them in the interim if the employer is not able to do so.
MOM, it said, had also established links with various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to refer any work pass holders found sleeping rough.
"In the past few months, MOM has not received any referrals from the NGOs."
MOM also reminded all employers of their obligations to their foreign employees and to ensure that they had proper accommodation during their stay in Singapore.
"Members of the public who know of any work pass holders facing accommodation issues should refer them to MOM or the MWC's 24-hour hotline at 6536 2692 for further assistance."