Thursday January 4, 2007

Beggars spoiling KLCC’s image

By HO MENG YEN
Photos by SAMUEL ONG and MOHD SAHAR MISNI

THE tunnel at the KLCC LRT station is a favourite haunt for beggars – a sad state of affairs especially in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur’s ultramodern landmark, the Petronas Twin Towers.

During StarMetro’s visit to the area on Dec 30, a wheelchair-bound man with deformed arms and legs had parked himself at the station’s entrance.

The man, who appeared to be begging for money, said he was at the KLCC station only on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Not far from him, a blind man with a walking stick stood greeting the incoming crowd, consisting of both tourists and Malaysians.

And a busker was there too, making his presence felt by singing and playing his guitar. In front of him was an opened guitar case to catch coins or ringgit notes from members of the public who appreciated his music.

Favourite haunt: A wheelchair-bound beggar and a busker (in the background) competing for spare change from sympathetic. commuters.

The man, who introduced himself as Boy, said he busked at the station daily.

He added that he had seen up to six beggars there at any one time, among them handicapped people and foreign women with babies.

Boy said he would begin his musical stints by singing the national anthem because he was proud to be Malaysian.

KLCC Urus Harta manager Mustafa Awang said the beggars at the LRT station were damaging the country’s image.

He said the tunnel used to belong to Kuala Lumpur City Hall but KLCC Urus Harta took it over on Jan 1 in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

“The tunnel was initially under City Hall’s jurisdiction because it is a public area,” he explained.

He said KLCC Urus Harta had decided to take over the tunnel because it felt that it could provide better services for the area.

The takeover is a result of a two-year negotiation with City Hall.

Mustafa said the effort to take over the tunnel was made due to complaints from the public.

Currently, the security guards at the tunnel are only in charge of the KLCC LRT station.

Pamin, a security guard from Nepal, said he did not have the power to remove the beggars.

After KLCC Urus Harta’s takeover however, beggars found lurking at the tunnel will be asked to go away.

Security guards working in three shifts are now allocated for the area.

Up to two security guards are stationed at the tunnel for 24 hours every day.

The beggars will be given up to two weeks to evacuate, failing which enforcement officers from City Hall and the Welfare Services Department will remove them from the area.

Cleaners have also been to deployed to clean up the area.

“All maintenance costs at the area will be borne by KLCC Urus Harta,” Mustafa added.