Ku Nan: Government not cruel to the homeless and beggars

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has refuted the claim that the Government was cruel and heartless towards the homeless and beggars following the move to prohibit the public from giving food or donations to them. 

Instead, the Federal Territories Minister said the Government was committed to helping them have a better life, including through the services provided at Anjung Singgah. 

"These measures are meant to ensure that the comfort and wellbeing of city folks are always taken care of and to wipe out begging syndicates," he said in a statement here on Friday. 

Tengku Adnan said his ministry and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) would identify suitable locations to accommodate the homeless and beggars by providing facilities, like the Anjung Singgah concept. 

They will also be provided with free food and non-governmental organisations are welcomed to contribute, he added.

Tengku Adnan said the homeless contributed to the problems of cleanliness in Kuala Lumpur especially at tourist spots.

They also contributed to social and security problems and their presence tarnish the image of Kuala Lumpur, he added.

"They sleep in inappropriate places in the city and are exposed to infectious diseases," Tengku Adnan said.

He noted that the issue on the homeless was becoming more complicated when they had formed groups and took control of certain places, a situation, which often led to fights among them. 

He said that the ministry and DBKL would also identify suitable locations as food distribution centres for NGOs to provide food for the homeless.

On Thursday, Tengku Adnan announced that soup kitchens would be banned from operating within a 2km radius of Lot 10. 

In 2013, DBKL relocated 965 homeless people, 125 of whom were foreigners.

During the first five months of this year, 117 homeless including 21 foreigners were relocated.