The Johor Baru Urban Forest Park where the homeless are now found taking shelter.

JOHOR BARU: Homeless people taking refuge at the Johor Baru Urban Forest Park here are causing inconvenience to the public, especially those coming to the park every morning to exercise.

The recreational park which is popular among families and outdoor enthusiasts has become a shelter for some of the homeless people, with them sleeping on the benches for the past three months.

Sunhi Saad, 55, who jogs at the park with his wife on weekends, claimed the benches were now dirty and filled with rubbish.

“It annoys me that they do not bother to maintain the cleanliness of the park,’’ he said, adding that he had lodged complaints to the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) several times but no action was taken to date.

Meanwhile, Johor Consumer Movement Association chairman Abdul Majid Kayat said the association would look into ways to resolve the issue of homeless people taking shelter at public places as it was a serious problem.

MBJB public relations officer Mohd Firdaus Abdul Hamis said the local council cannot chase away the homeless as the park was a public place and the facilities were open to everyone.

“The least we can do is advise them not to sleep on the benches or other open areas within the park,” he said.