Keperluan dan bantuan untuk integrasi semula: Perspektif gelandangan bekas banduan di Kuala Lumpur (The need and assistance for re-integration: The perspective of homeless former prisoners in Kuala Lumpur)

Abstract

Setiap tahun, ratusan ribu banduan dibebaskan tanpa sebarang perkhidmatan sambungan dari Jabatan Penjara Malaysia. Bantuan yang diberikan menerusi program parol dan rumah perantaraan yang hanya dapat dinikmati oleh segelintir bekas banduan yang menjadikan majoriti bekas banduan dibebaskan tanpa sebarang bantuan. Keadaan ini menjadikan mereka terpaksa berintegrasi semula dengan menggunakan usaha sendiri. Keadaan ini membuatkan keperluan melaksanakan kajian ini untuk mengenalpasti bantuan yang diterima oleh gelandangan bekas banduan dan keperluan yang diperlukan untuk mereka keluar dari kehidupan jalanan. Sebuah kajian kualititatif yang mengunakan kaedah fenomonologi dengan menemubual 15 orang informan gelandangan bekas banduan telah dilakukan. Hasil kajian menunjukkan majoriti informan yang menyatakan ketiadaan sebarang bantuan daripada pihak Jabatan Penjara Malaysia. Mereka memohon bantuan terutama dari Baitulmal dan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat tetapi telah dirumitkan dengan ketiadaan kad pengenalan, birokrasi, dan dokumen-dokumen seperti sijil lahir. Kajian telah mengenalpasti beberapa bantuan yang boleh diperkenalkan oleh kerajaan untuk gelandangan bekas banduan agar mereka dapat keluar daripada kehidupan jalanan. Antaranya ialah pekerjaan, tempat tinggal, bantuan kewangan, penggantian kad pengenalan dan bimbingan agama. Keperluan untuk buat pihak kerajaan terutama Jabatan Penjara Malaysia dan Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat untuk menjadi lebih cakna dalam mengenalpasti perkhidmatan yang boleh diberikan kepada gelandangan bekas banduan agar mereka dapat keluar daripada kehidupan di jalanan ini. Diharap dapatan kajian ini dapat digunakan sebagai input dalam membentuk program bantuan dan sokongan lanjutan yang bersesuaian buat gelandangan bekas banduan.

Kata kunci: Bantuan, gelandangan bekas banduan, keperluan asas, pembebasan, perkhidmatan sosial, sokongan sosial.

Thousands of prisoners are being released without extension of services from the Malaysian Prison Department annually. Parole programs and halfway houses often serve as the only form of aid to former prisoners as many of them are released without any proper assistance, forcing them to self-reintegrate into the society. Thus, a network of necessities is essential for this minority group of former prisoners to successfully reintegrate into society and prevent them from being homeless. This motivates the present study to identify the assistance received by homeless former prisoners alongside any additional necessities that they require for reintegration. Adopting a qualitative approach, the current study utilises the phenomenology method where an interview was conducted among 15 former prisoners who are homeless. The results of the study showed that the majority of informants stated that there was no assistance from the Malaysian Prisons Department. Applying for basic aids from Baitulmal and the Malaysian Department of Social Welfare proved to be tedious and difficult as they are faced with several obstacles such as the absence of national identity cards and evidence of important documents such as birth certificates. The issue of bureaucracy also proves to be a major challenge in the application process. Additionally, this study puts forth possible solutions for the government in resolving the issue of homeless former prisoners which includes employment, housing, financial assistance, identity card replacement and religious guidance. There is a strong need for the government, especially the Malaysian Prison Department and the Department of Social Welfare Malaysia to collaborate and ensure the provision of necessary services for former prisoners. Overall, this study provides useful insights into the formation of relevant strategies and support programs required for the reintegration of former prisoners as a fully functional member of the society.

Keywords: Assistance, homeless former prisoners, basic needs, release, social services, social support.