COMMENT The recent uproar over the Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor’s initial decision to shut down soup kitchens in the Kuala Lumpur escalated quickly.

His decision was met with protests on social media; prominent soup kitchen organisers such as Pertiwi and Kechara criticised the move; and Youtube videos on the important roles that these soup kitchens played went viral.

This debacle prompted the prime minister to visit a soup kitchen last week. Frequently criticised for displaying a lack of leadership, this move was refreshing and the right thing to do. Unfortunately, the damage had already been done.

Imagine an alternative scenario, where a visit to the soup kitchens and consultations with key stakeholders were done first. I’m sure a more amicable solution to this issue would’ve been found.