KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — Kuala Lumpur City Hall’s (DBKL) installation of steel bench dividers to stop the homeless from sleeping on these undermines ongoing talks between charity groups and government on the issue, Dapur Jalanan Kuala Lumpur said today.

The mobile soup kitchen categorised the installation as a renewed assault by authorities against the urban poor, labelling it as a “cruel act”.

“Problems have arisen because DBKL’s action has betrayed the spirit of dialogue and discussion,” Dapur Jalanan said in a statement.

“The aggressive act of installing steel dividers on public benches has also sabotaged the efforts of all parties in finding solutions for the urban poor and homeless issue.”

Dapur Jalanan also repeated its call for a moratorium on arrests and “eradication” of the urban poor to prove the government’s sincerity.

The Malay Mail Online reported on Tuesday that DBKL has installed the dividers painted in luminescent green on several benches in Kuala Lumpur to prevent vagrants from sleeping on them.

The latest measure appears to be stem from Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor remarks on July 3 that soup kitchens would be barred from operating within a 2km zone in the city centre as their operations are encouraging homelessness and reflected poorly on the image of the nation’s capital.

Tengku Adnan had complained the areas where soup kitchens operate were dirty, attracted vermin that spread diseases like Leptospirosis, and dengue.

After coming under fire for the remarks, the ministry sought to contain the negative publicity by saying it is merely setting up a “one-stop centre” to combat vagrancy in Kuala Lumpur, which was followed by a visit from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the homeless on July 10.

Tengku Adnan then announced that the ban will be postponed until after Hari Raya, which is next Monday.

Civil societies, soup kitchens and the Federal Territories Ministry have had two meetings on the issue so far.

The government also said it will hold a “town hall meeting” with the homeless soon, as an avenue for vagrants here to voice their complaints so the government can improve their standard of living.