Of Soups, Souls and Spins

Yesterday, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor announced that soup kitchens will no longer be allowed to operate within a 2km radius of Lot 10, which covers a large portion of the city centre, effective immediately. 

Overnight, many Malaysians (especially politicians) are portraying themselves as charitable saints coming to the defense of  the poor and homeless who depend on soup kitchens for meals. The whole scenario has been spun out of proportion by opportunists who jumped on the bandwagon to leverage on the public outcry against Tengku Adnan's announcement.

The harsh reality is that many never bothered to get to the crux of the real reason behind the ban but merrily appointed themselves as crusaders for those affected by the ban.

Here's the summarised version of press statements by Tengku Adnan on this issue.

1. This activity just encourages people to remain homeless and jobless. There have been many such people whom we have found jobs for, who returned to that life because they said it is easier.

2. The sessions also resulted in littering and this in turn attracted scavengers that brought about diseases. There are all kinds of garbage-related problems in the city and more than RM90mil a year is spent collecting it. 

3. I do not see my actions as harsh but necessary in order to create a disciplined society.

4. Soup kitchens would be given the next two days to comply with the decision and action will be taken against those who continue to run the activities.
 

5. The decision was not meant to dismiss the charitable work of those who chose to help the homeless and im poverished.

6. “My intention is to clean the city. For that, I am ready to listen and make amends to whatever is needed,” he said.

7.  The ministry’s reports had found that many beggars in the city were not Malaysian citizens.

8. “We are not stopping anyone from donating (to the poor), we are only asking them to do so through appropriate means (instead of on the streets).”

Take a look at some of the outrageous reactions of some politicians who have skewed perspectives of the situation. Leading the pack is Lim Guan Eng as reported by Malaysiakini. My comments are in yellow.

  

Even animals want to free, what more human beings. This is the argument put forth by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

This has nothing to do with freedom. It would do LGE a lot of good if he could just take time to read Tengku Adnan's rationale.

In view of this, Lim said, arresting the homeless and banning soup kitchens would not solve the issue.

Again, we see LGE's warped perspective. 

a. The issue is NOT about freedom or arresting the homeless. Tengku Adnan said action will be taken against those who continue to run the activities. Tengku Adnan NEVER  said he will arrest the homeless.
b. Tengku Adnan never mentioned the issue of freedom nor did he say that this ban is to solve the problem of freedom. 

"These people can be put into homes but they would escape as they prefer to be free. Even though they may go hungry, they are willing to choose freedom over hunger," he added.

I don't understand LGE's rationale. No where did Tengku Adnan say anything about putting the homeless in homes. Tengku Adnan never spoke a word about depriving the homeless of their freedom. 

"They want to enjoy their freedom, they are willing to beg on the streets, so they can be free. This is something we have to respect."

Hello Mr Lim Guan Eng. You are completely off topic. If you really feel so strongly about the homeless, pray thee tell Malaysians and the whole world what YOU have done as CM of Penang for the homeless. Pray thee tell the world what charitable works DAP has done in Penang and every single town, city and state of Malaysia. Or would you rather disclose how many times DAP has begged Malaysians for donations? Oops...sorry Mr Lim. I am just following your example of going off topic.

Lim called on Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to respect an individual's choice to be a beggar or homeless, instead of creating a "Potemkin City".

Mr Lim, please ask your script/speech/press statement writer to stop flaunting his/her academic knowledge which is so passe already. Shameful. Also, please make sure that YOU, the Crusader King of Beggars and the Homeless designate ONE special day for the homeless and make that a public holiday. You have no moral ground to speak so hypocritically about Potemkin City if you have done nothing for the homeless in Penang.

Have NGOs in Penang ever asked you to build a halfway house for beggars and the homeless in Penang - somewhere for them to bathe and to wash their clothes? What have you done for the homeless, beggars and other poor people in Penang?

If you have done nothing, why are you speaking up now in such a horrifyingly hypocritical fashion which seems to be in your DNA???

Potemkin village was originally used by the Russians to describe Grigory Potemkin, who built fake settlements along the banks of the Dnieper River in order to fool Empress Catherine II during her visit to Crimea in 1787 (Source: Wikipedia)

Hello Mr Lim. Please tell your speech writer to save his/her history knowledge for the classroom and get down to serious business of WRITING LOGICALLY!

The chief minister acknowledged that beggars and homeless people can pose a problem on the streets, but it would be "heartless" to act so harshly on them or ban soup kitchens.

Mr Lim, please read Tengku Adnan's rationale CAREFULLY. And, please check your press secretary's work before it is published. Be relevant.

"He (Tengku Adnan) is just creating a Potemkin, a fake village, to impress people. Or does he think he is Potemkin?" Lim asked at a press conference today.

Do you, Mr Lim, think you are King of the Beggars? You are simply seeking cheap publicity by riding on this issue in a most disgusting manner.

He conceded that it was a challenge to balance individual freedom and needs of society but stressed that leaders must act on these matters with compassion.

Oh please...enough sermonising. Ask yourself if you EVER had compassion for Tham Weng Fatt and other old folks sleeping along the streets in Penang Road, Leith Street etc. What did you EVER do for them?

He urged Ku Nan to be more "humane" by withdrawing and revoking the ban on soup kitchens.

I urge LGE to be more HUMANE by looking at himself first before moralising and putting himself on a illogically high moral ground and talking down to others as if he were God of all homeless and beggars.

Of soups, souls and spins...now tell me who is the one without a soul!!!

To be continued.....