YOURSAY ‘The solution is not to chase them out or ban the soup kitchens.’

Najib moves to douse soup kitchen flames

Doc: As a non-Muslim, Ramadan, from what I understand from my Muslim friends, is for Muslims to understand and experience the plight of the less fortunate. Also the Ramadan month is a time for helping the poor and sharing.

This proposal by Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to rid the streets of Kuala Lumpur of homeless people and to take action against those who help the poor and homeless contradicts the spirit of Ramadan and is considered appalling by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

PM Najib Razak should also take the blame for this fiasco brought about by Tengku Adnan as he appointed this nincompoop to a ministerial position and this is not the first time nor will this be Tengku Adnan's last time in cooking up rules and regulations which any able-minded Malaysian find ludicrous and downright stupid.     

Turvy: Talk of banning of soup kitchens lights up another area where the government has failed. The heartbreaking videos of the plight of the neglected poor are in clear contrast to the ugly obesity of those who have put them there.

There is ‘beauty’ only in those who have set up the kitchens and stand there night after night dishing out the food patiently and without judgement.

Now the PM tweets that he will "find a mutual acceptable solution for all parties”. Perhaps he ought to be told that the soup kitchens are providing a solution for those who need a meal.

It is his government that needs to find a solution to the poor. And the solution is not to chase them out or ban the soup kitchens.

Anonymous_3faa: Wow! The latest statement from Tengku Adnan is that he now "understood" the plight of the homeless as he claimed that he had gone "incognito numerous times to mingle and meet the homeless". 

Oh, how convenient - "incognito", anonymously, unseen, in secret, in disguise, without his entourage of bodyguards, limousine, gloved hands and sanitisers?

You think Malaysians can be fooled by your latest back-tracking remarks? This is the holy month of Ramadan. Why are we hearing so many lies and cover-ups? Who's next in the lying queue? 

Malaya: Tengku Adnan issued an order to clear the city of vagrant without any solution in sight. In the face of heavy fire, he promised that plans are under way to set up "one-stop centres" for the poor and homeless.

It is like after raping an innocent girl and later offer to marry her after being caught. If he really have plan, why is that there is no discussion or announcement of the plan before his ultimatum?

Casey: "I live on good soup, not on fine words," said French playwright Moliere. Politicians pay lip service and tell the poor that the price of kangkung and other "essential items" are inexpensive.

They tell the people to shop in KR1M or 1Malaysia Grocery Stores, while they infiltrate into every aspect of people's life with the introduction of rent seekers and arbitrageurs - cars, tolls, utilities, food and fuel costs and you name it - and pushed up prices that exert tremendous inflationary pressures.

Perhaps, going by that argument, it would be okay if societal efforts is replaced by government franchised '1Malaysia Soup Kitchens' where some cronies are allowed to operate these soup kitchen with hefty government subsidies?

If these corrupt practices, of robbing the poor to subsidise the rich, persist; soon we'll need more and more 1Malaysia Soup Kitchens. Now, Ku Nan, this may sound like another 'business' opportunity?

Anonymous_3e21: Najib, at the rate you are running this country, more and more rakyat will become homeless.

Look at your cabinet size and especially your very own Jabatan Perdana Menteri. Billions are wasted which could in turn feed so many hungry rakyat.

Wiser: The government has failed to adequately provide for the hungry and homeless rakyat. That is why kind souls took it upon themselves to volunteer to pay, cook and feed these neglected individuals via soup kitchens.

If the government feels that the these premises are wrongly located and affects tourism, businesses, can it not think out of the box to create a better atmosphere in these needed premises so that tourists are impressed with the government? After all, these soup kitchen are only opened a few hours a day.

I was in downtown Madrid and there was a soup kitchen 50 meters from a four or five-star hotel. The area was kept spotless by the local council. People lined up for breakfast, which was approximately from 7am to 9am, in cold winter. The tourists were sympathetic but impressed.

Pondering Why: Every unfortunate being who is a victim of circumstances would require a timely generosity to change his or her predicament.

During this holy month where generosity is the norm, this despicable act (of driving away the homeless and relocating soup kitchens) compromises the sanctity of fasting, prayers and good intend of Ramadan.

Overseas Malaysian: Najib, a tweet or an SMS is not considered an official reprimand of a despicable minister.

Man on the Street: Why not a press conference to convey your stand, Najib? Is this matter so trivial to you?

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