The Federal Territories Ministry has decided to backtrack on its proposal to penalise vagrants and homeless communities in Kuala Lumpur and to ban soup kitchens serving food to poor communities in the city.
It’s even recommended several sites that it thinks would be suitable for soup kitchens to set up their operations.
FT Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor, who bore the brunt of criticism and online outrage following last month’s announcement of penalties and bans, said his ministry would monitor the charities and operate soup kitchens throughout KL to ensure continued cleanliness.
“We have identified several suitable locations for the NGOS to operate, based on our observation. Those who have decided not to move can continue operating from their base,” The Malaysian Insider reports him as saying on Saturday.
Tengku Adnan added that his ministry and Kuala Lumpur City Hall would continue to hold discussions with relevant NGOs on the matter.
In the first week of July, Tengku Adnan announced that soup kitchens operating within a 2km radius of the Lot 10 shopping mall in downtown KL would be barred from continuing their work, as they encouraged homelessness and tarnished KL’s image as a modern city and tourist destination.
On Saturday, Tengku Adnan defended his motives for wanting to curb homelessness in the city.
“I was accused of many things because of the homeless issue. I personally went all over the city to understand the issue.
“I talked to homeless people. There are those who are genuinely in need of help, there are those who have mental problems and there are also opportunists. The last group is the one that we cannot stand.
“We do not want to come and feed the homeless like feeding the chicken. There must be a better solution,” he added.
He also refuted claims that he did not understand the plight of the city’s vagrants because he was born with a silver spoon.
“I used to live in a squatter settlement before. We lived everywhere. So I do understand the hardship in life and it was not my intention to make other people’s life difficult.”
See Also:
Crackdown imminent on beggars in KL … and the people who give to them
Federal Territories Minister to soup kitchens: get out of KL or face fines
After internet outrage, Tengku Adnan defends himself on Facebook. Does it work?
“Let them come”: soup kitchen defies City Hall ban, continues to feed homeless
Lawyer group: being homeless is not a crime
Government holds off on soup kitchen ban until after Hari Raya
PM Najib visits soup kitchen, announces KL homeless shelter in 6 months
