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

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

"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.

"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."

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".

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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

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