Image rests on how we treat the marginalised
A SivarajanPublished: Jul 4, 2014 7:22 AM | Updated: Jul 4, 2014 7:25 AM
Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) is disgusted at the mentality of the Federal Territories Minister, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who decided to forcefully evict soup kitchens in KL that have been feeding the poor and homeless all these years.
The minister insisted that soup kitchens in Kuala Lumpur have until Monday to relocate out of the city centre if they do not want to be fined by City Hall. Putrajaya was determined to clear the homeless from the city and had restricted programmes by non-governmental organisations to feed them.
He was also quoted as saying that, “The image of my city is very bad. If I don’t do this sort of thing, society won’t be disciplined.”
PSM always felt that the image of a city is not evaluated by the number of skyscrapers that it has but on how well the city treats its marginalised communities. It’s nothing to be proud of shiny glass hi-tech buildings, if the urban poor of the city are left in poorly maintained ghettos and slums.
These people who live in the streets and beg have been deserted by society for one reason or another .They have not been able to accommodate to the robotic life style of a wage earner in the capitalist economic system. Just because they are unable to make a living in the city doesn’t mean that they can be treated as trash. It’s sickening to note the narrow-mindedness and lack of compassion of the minister, supposedly a national policy-maker.
It’s easy for the minister to evaluate these fellow Malaysians from his armchair, claiming that “we want to give those jobs, but they do not want because they can get free food on the streets”. The minister has no idea of their physical, health and mental conditions .They might have chronic diseases, mental issues, probably with some disabilities, thus making them unable to get a job. They need to be given assistance in half-way homes, not fined and locked up!
The initiative by Dapur Jalanan and other groups in feeding the poor should be supported instead of being ridiculed. They have ensured that these people at least have a decent healthy meal and don’t end up starving. If you stop this feeding programme, the poor and homeless would probably end up scavenging trash bins for food and possibly contracting diseases.
The Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) has failed terribly to uplift the lives of the urban poor. There are many whom are waiting for assistance from JKM after having applied several times. The urban poor whom live in PPR high-rise dwellings are struggling to make ends meet with their below RM1,500 household income. Mostly those from these urban poor household families, the old and those no longer economically productive will end up on the streets.
Failure to address urban poverty
The increasing number of homeless and beggars only reflects the failure of the government to address urban poverty effectively.
Putrajaya probably can thump their chests proudly and claim that national poverty in terms of hardcore poverty has been reduced from 6.9 percent in 1984 to 0.2 percent in 2012. But in reality more households are unable to purchase their own homes due to rocketing house prices and an increase in the cost of living due to increase in price of food and daily services.
The minister’s decision is not addressing urban poverty, but merely whitewashing the city to look ‘good’ for tourist. Instead of criminalising the poor and homeless, what gives the city a ‘bad’ image is the never-ending traffic problems, potholes, sinkholes, flash floods, gambling dens, increasing crime rate and many more.
PSM condemns the minister’s insensitiveness towards the urban poor and homeless, and seriously urges the government to stop all actions to evict the homeless and feeding centres by soup kitchens initiatives in the city.
A SIVARAJAN is PSM national treasurer.
The minister insisted that soup kitchens in Kuala Lumpur have until Monday to relocate out of the city centre if they do not want to be fined by City Hall. Putrajaya was determined to clear the homeless from the city and had restricted programmes by non-governmental organisations to feed them.
He was also quoted as saying that, “The image of my city is very bad. If I don’t do this sort of thing, society won’t be disciplined.”
PSM always felt that the image of a city is not evaluated by the number of skyscrapers that it has but on how well the city treats its marginalised communities. It’s nothing to be proud of shiny glass hi-tech buildings, if the urban poor of the city are left in poorly maintained ghettos and slums.
These people who live in the streets and beg have been deserted by society for one reason or another .They have not been able to accommodate to the robotic life style of a wage earner in the capitalist economic system. Just because they are unable to make a living in the city doesn’t mean that they can be treated as trash. It’s sickening to note the narrow-mindedness and lack of compassion of the minister, supposedly a national policy-maker.
It’s easy for the minister to evaluate these fellow Malaysians from his armchair, claiming that “we want to give those jobs, but they do not want because they can get free food on the streets”. The minister has no idea of their physical, health and mental conditions .They might have chronic diseases, mental issues, probably with some disabilities, thus making them unable to get a job. They need to be given assistance in half-way homes, not fined and locked up!
The initiative by Dapur Jalanan and other groups in feeding the poor should be supported instead of being ridiculed. They have ensured that these people at least have a decent healthy meal and don’t end up starving. If you stop this feeding programme, the poor and homeless would probably end up scavenging trash bins for food and possibly contracting diseases.
The Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) has failed terribly to uplift the lives of the urban poor. There are many whom are waiting for assistance from JKM after having applied several times. The urban poor whom live in PPR high-rise dwellings are struggling to make ends meet with their below RM1,500 household income. Mostly those from these urban poor household families, the old and those no longer economically productive will end up on the streets.
Failure to address urban poverty
The increasing number of homeless and beggars only reflects the failure of the government to address urban poverty effectively.
Putrajaya probably can thump their chests proudly and claim that national poverty in terms of hardcore poverty has been reduced from 6.9 percent in 1984 to 0.2 percent in 2012. But in reality more households are unable to purchase their own homes due to rocketing house prices and an increase in the cost of living due to increase in price of food and daily services.
The minister’s decision is not addressing urban poverty, but merely whitewashing the city to look ‘good’ for tourist. Instead of criminalising the poor and homeless, what gives the city a ‘bad’ image is the never-ending traffic problems, potholes, sinkholes, flash floods, gambling dens, increasing crime rate and many more.
PSM condemns the minister’s insensitiveness towards the urban poor and homeless, and seriously urges the government to stop all actions to evict the homeless and feeding centres by soup kitchens initiatives in the city.
A SIVARAJAN is PSM national treasurer.
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