Drug addicts and the homeless will be swept off the streets of the Malaysian capital ahead of the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit, a top official said today.

"We must rid the city of all negative elements," Mohmad Shaid Mohamad Taufek, Kuala Lumpur mayor said at the re-opening of an old jail which was refurbished at a cost of RM3 million.

Police Chief Norian Mai said Pudu prison, located in the heart of the city, would house up to 1,000 drug addicts and vagrants who would be cleared from the streets ahead of the NAM summit.

Over the last three months, police have arrested 3,760 drug addicts in Kuala Lumpur, he said.

The summit, to be held o­n Feb 20-25 would bring together leaders or their representatives from NAM's 114 member states.