The government has set up counters to register the homeless, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

She said the Kuala Lumpur Manpower Department registration counter in Jalan Masjid India is open Tuesdays from 9pm to midnight and near Puduraya on Thursdays from 9pm to 1am.

"We are also setting up a one-stop intervention centre in Jalan Hang Lekiu for 76 people slated for completion by month's end," she said in reply to a question from Lilah Yasin (BN-Jempol) in Dewan Rakyat today.

Lilah had asked about plans to overcome problem posed by the homeless who could be seen sleeping on five foot ways and bus stations.

Shahrizat said the Welfare Services Department (JKM) had done a profiling exercise to know the exact number of homeless in Kuala Lumpur.

JKM conducted it in stages from March 6 to May 12 with the cooperation of non-governmental organisations (NGO).

"Profiling can help JKM and government agencies plan intervention action and provide the homeless with necessary aid," she added.

It was one of efforts undertaken by the ministry's special committee formed in March and headed by secretary-general Noorul Ainur Mohd Nur.

To a supplementary question from Lilah on homeless foreigners, Shahrizat said that the profiling showed that they were victims of syndicates and forced to beg for a living.

"JKM and police conduct regular operations to check this problem. The syndicates are smart and move from place to place. But we never give up," she added.

- Bernama