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Kota Kinabalu: Business operators in Lido are urging authorities to step in after a growing number of vagrants, mostly women carrying young toddlers, were spotted begging and occupying shop walkways throughout the day on Wednesday.

The vagrants, whose identities and nationalities remain unknown, were seen along the shop walkways from morning until evening, with some women placing their infants directly on the walkway to sleep, raising concern among passers-by over the hygiene and safety conditions the children were being exposed to.

Members of the public raised concern that the situation posed health risks not only to the women and children involved, who appeared unkempt and dirty, but also caused inconvenience to shoppers and pedestrians using the walkways.

The use of a public walkway as a makeshift resting and sleeping space, with no apparent regard for foot traffic or sanitary conditions, has added to the urgency of calls for authorities to address the matter.