The Federal Territories Ministry has denied that it is acting cruelly in clearing out beggars and soup kitchens within the Kuala Lumpur city centre, saying plans are under way to set up one-stop centres for the poor and homeless.

The ministry said that together with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), it has identified several suitable locations for the centre, which will provide shelters similar to the Anjung Singgah concept, and other facilities such as healthcare and laundry services, and serve as an integrated registration centre for the homeless.

"The Federal Territories Ministry and DBKL will not take such measures (of fining beggars and banning soup kitchens in the city centre) without taking into account a suitable solution," the ministry said in a statement on its official blog.

Hence, it said the question that the Federal Territories Ministry and DBKL wanting to prevent any party, such as the NGOs, from donating and carrying out their work as usual, should no longer arise.

"It is just that the methods (employed) and locations which are not suitable must be taken into consideration. This is to prevent any problems from cropping up such as food poisoning due to filth, rat urine and cleanliness issues and unsightly views in tourist-centric areas, and others," said the ministry.

The government received much flak over its plan to take in beggars, fine those who give alms, and place a ban on soup kitchens within a two-kilometre radius of Bukit Bintang, starting Monday.

Last night, minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor ( right ) had stated on his Facebook that he only had good intentions and was willing to listen to all views on the matter and make any necessary amendments.

"I am not banning the pure work of those who help the homeless and poor in the city. I have also read the harsh words that have been thrown at me.

"I would like to inform that is not my intention... I just want to keep the capital city clean,” the minister said.

Stand taken after study

Tengku Adnan said the stand was taken following meetings with several agencies including DBKL, Alam Flora Sdn Bhd, and the Welfare Services Department.

He said one of the reasons why the city is dirty is as a result of the homeless people who like to litter indiscriminately and sleep at various places including Pavillion, Kuala Lumpur City Centre and side-roads.

A study done on the homeless revealed that the reason they are in such a way is due to their not having jobs, are poor, having mental or depression condition, foreigners who do not have any occupation, unable to manage themselves, the family had left them or they take drugs, alcohol or former convicts, and some are also the elderly.

The ministry statement further named 12 hotspots for the homeless and identified 12 NGOs or soup kitchens that are providing food to them.

Hence, the ministry added that it has made the decision not without conducting a careful study on the matter.

The ministry will identify the various suitable spots where the food could be distributed to the homeless, the beggars and vagrants, in a bid to reduce rubbish.

Tengku Adnan, in a separate statement this afternoon, said according to investigations, there are the homeless or vagrants acting as syndicates in places which are frequented by the people.

He said that taking alms is like a form of profession to gain income.

“There are those arrested by the authorities who are found to be staying in hotel near the places where they sought donations.

“Last year in a joint operation by DBKL, a total of 965 vagrants and homeless were picked up of whom 125 of them are foreigners.

“Up to May this year, a total of 117 homeless people were picked up through a joint operation, of whom 21 of them are foreigners,” he said.

Tengku Adnan added the ministry will meeting with the various NGO's to have discussion on Tuesday to identify the various suitable locations for their soup kitchens.

Related stories

Soup kitchen launched by Rosmah bows to ban

Open your mansion to the poor, Ku Nan told

'Lazy? Soup kitchens help get jobs for homeless'

Minister: Not arresting, but saving vagrants

Guan Eng: Homeless hunger for freedom

Nandos pecks into homeless fiasco

'Don't be Scrooge of Ramadan, Ku Nan'

'Why ban, if soup kitchens can be tourist attraction'

Homelessness is not a crime

Ku Nan, how did foreign beggars get here?