While the nation is being directed to a frenzy to claim the coveted glory of ‘high-income nation’, the ground reality speaks volumes of another reality.

Right in the heart of Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur that is transforming at an erratic pace with glass and steel skyscrapers, a homeless, unforgotten soul lies sprawled. Ignored even by the men and women in blue who man the 24-hour police base just across the road, passers-by appear just as helpless. And shop owners/operators hugging the pavement are oblivious of this reality too, as they hope for more sales for the day before the shops’ shutters are drawn down.

The truth is that Kuala Lumpur is seeing an increasing number of homeless, abandoned and ignored men and women. And a closer look even reveals that these abandoned and helpless - including drunks, may even comprise of foreign nationals.

The rising demand for soup kitchens also showcases the truth that Malaysia is ignoring a problem that truly reflects our leadership is losing its direction as it prioritises wealth creation, all in the name of a coveted prize of high-income nation label.

The now putrifying 1MDB debacle and scandal is an attestation of how we have abandoned two of the critical nine challenges as enshrined in Wawasan 2020, ie creating a caring society and ensuring developing a society that is not marginalised along social, economic, political and environmental parameters.

Malaysians need to ask their leaders what is the national will in ensuring we do not end up like the infamous underground of Paris that stinks of urine, faeces and whole communities of abandoned street people.