Don’t shame Malaysia again over homeless issue, Christian youth tell Putrajaya
Feeling the heat from criticism following his order for soup kitchens to move out of the city centre, the Federal Territories minister is now saying the "move out" order was not meant to stop NGOs from feeding the needy.
Instead, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said that his ministry and KL City Hall would be identifying a suitable food distribution centre so that NGOs could continue their voluntary work.
In a statement on the minister's official website, it was stated this was to help address the hygiene problem caused by the homeless and their unhygienic waste-disposal habits.
He added that new location would also take into account easy access for the homeless and beggars in the city.
According to the statement, the one-stop centre would feature a place to rest and sleep, a medical examination area to ensure that contagious diseases are not spread and a laundry area.
The new facility would also feature a place to prepare free nutritious food, the website stated.
Meanwhile, the Council of Churches of Malaysia (CCM) Youth wing expressed deep concern over the escalating anti-homeless measures announced by Putrajaya recently.
In a statement today, CCM Youth moderator Chrisanne Chin said that the measures announced not only oppressed the vulnerable in society but also those helping them.
She added that the lack of compassion shown by the ministers was particularly insensitive, coming at a time when millions in Malaysia were fasting, praying and giving out alms.
"It is reprehensible to demonise all homeless as beggars, criminals, addicts or lazy and would only serve to stoke public hostility, endangering destitute women and street children to further violence should society turn against them," Chin said.
The movement called on the Department of Social Welfare and Federal Territories Ministry to withdraw the anti-homeless campaign before the nation was shamed globally again.
"Beneath the progress Malaysia tries to portray to the world, lies an ugly truth of the gravity of homelessness in Kuala Lumpur.
"CCM Youth finds it shameful that the government is intent on sweeping the matter under the carpet, which in this case, is to sweep the homeless off the 2km radius of Kuala Lumpur," she said, adding that it was as if Malaysia was trying to hide the real problems affecting the nation.
Chin said that unlawful detention of the homeless was unjust and immoral, adding that the proposal to put sharp steel spikes in public areas was dangerous to the visually impaired and children.
Chin also hoped that the authorities would exercise compassion and humility by consulting and working with civil society groups and NGOs to carry out mitigation strategies and long-term solutions to help the city's poor. – July 4, 2014.
