KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 — Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that wish to help the homeless people in the federal capital are advised to channel aid distribution through the right channel, said Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
He said this was because some NGOs organised programmes to help the group in the city area which had resulted in the area to be dirty and uncontrollable to the extent of tarnishing the image of the federal capital.
“The government has set up transit centres for the homeless so that all activities or programmes pertaining to the group can be held under one roof. The NGOs are supposed to be aware of this.
“In addition, before they (NGOs) donate any kind of food items, the organisers need to refer to the management of the transit centre(s) beforehand as there have been cases in which the donated food could not be consumed by Muslims or vice-versa,” he told reporters after the Volunteer for Kuala Lumpur@Unity (V4KL@Unity) programme here today.
Tengku Adnan also advised the NGOs and city dwellers not to give too much assistance to the homeless people particularly cash, food and clothes which could cause the group to become too comfortable and lazy.
“The government has provided education for the group at the transit centres so that they can transform their lives, and some have been employed. However, if they receive food and clothes for free on a daily basis, wouldn't that will cause them to be in their comfort zone?
“Some of them have even resold the donated items such as clothes at night markets as they have received too much of such assistance. If we want to donate, do it right and give it to the people in need,” he said.
Meanwhile, a total of 500 volunteers of the V4KL@Unity programme joined in the repainting of public amenities around Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad in Brickfields here in preparation for the upcoming Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games this August. — Bernama
