CHERAS, 6 JULY: Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim does not agree with the suggestion by Federal Territories Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to stop nongovernmental organizations (NGO) from providing free food to the homeless community in the city.
He said, the assistance for homeless community should not be blocked, as the government should provide a better platform so the efforts are provided in the right manner and according to proper procedures.
“I feel that we need to find better ways to assist the needy as it is also the month of Ramadan. We should not try to get rid of them because the needy require assistance and that is a responsibility of us all, the state and the nation.”
“We must find new ways to provide assistance and a better system,” he told Selangor Kini after distributing ‘bubur lambuk’ to the public at Tesco Extra, here.
Abdul Khalid said, he fully agrees with the efforts of the NGO’s in providing food to people who needs it as it can help lighten their burden.
At the same time, he also said, the Federal government’s decision to build one stop centres to try combat poverty and homelessness can materialize but it will be a tough process.
“It is not easy to create one stop centres. Even distributing ‘bubur lambuk’ is not easy, it takes time. But it can be a success if done in the right manner,” he said.
Before, Tengku Adnan had instructed all NGO’s to stop distributing free food to the needy within two kilometres from the Lot 10 shopping mall area, in Bukit Bintang.
He said, he was worried if the place will be dirty with the presence of the homeless and needy as it the centre of tourist attraction. He also announced that the government will issue fines to people who provide for the beggars and will catch the beggars.
His statement received massive criticism from many political leaders and NGO activists till he had to put a statement to sound less authoritative.
He said, his ministry will have a discussion with all 12 NGO’s identified to have been actively providing free food to the homeless and will decide certain suitable locations for food assistance and other help in hopes that it can be executed better.
