JULY 5 ― Each year, without fail, Ramadan in Malaysia is a time when incidents occur where we are tested on our capacity to be tolerant, to love, to be patient and forgiving, to accept one another and to be compassionate.
Fasting for this whole month is supposed to be a way for us to be closer to God by being in solidarity with those who are less fortunate, by reminding ourselves that while we live our lives in relative comfort, there are many others who fall through the cracks and are unable to pick themselves up. It is not about starving oneself and feeling holier than thou.
What it is about is helping those who are poor, living in poverty and in need. That’s why during this period, Muslims are encouraged to donate their time and money to do charitable deeds and be involved in community service, with the idea that by doing good to others and the community, we can all be better people.
Perhaps the Minister of the Federal Territories and the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim respectively need to be reminded of this.
For some reason, these two have decided to wage a war on the homeless, poor, unemployed and destitute based on the warped and twisted belief that the majority chose to be so and are just plain lazy.
That soup kitchens and organisations which give food and assistance to them make it worse as it encourages this behaviour of purposely being homeless, jobless and therefore poor. The honourable ministers have repeated this position a number of times so they can’t claim to be misquoted.
Maybe it took a decapitated baby belonging to a mother who is homeless, for the authorities to realise that there are whole communities of vulnerable people who are living under bridges, along the riverbanks, in dark alleyways, in abandoned buildings on cardboard boxes, planks of wood and pieces of tarpaulin. People who Tengku Adnan would rather not see in “his” city.
For many years, the valiant efforts of non-profit voluntary organisations like Food Not Bombs KL, the Kechara Soup Kitchen, Pertiwi and many other faith-based groups have come together every day of the week, often at night to provide food, temporary shelter, clothes and medical assistance to these communities.
They fill critical gaps in essential government services. They provide for those who have slipped through the social welfare net. They are doing what we would rather not have to look at or deal with.
Proper avenues for aid? While the government bureaucracy often depends on people in need to go to them in their offices, wear clothes and look respectable, smell good, be literate, have an identity card, have a home address and be there before they close at 5pm, these soup kitchens often ask no questions, pass no judgements, provide a human face to show that people care and do so in the relative safety of the night.
The homeless and destitute have so little and now you want to take this away from them too? If you want to wage a war, let it be on poverty itself. Take this opportunity to improve quality and coverage of existing services and voluntary assistance to those who are homeless, in need and destitute, instead of cracking down on them.
Don’t victimise those who are unable to speak for themselves, are victims of poverty and hardship, and those wanting to help them. The operation labelled “Ops Qaseh” is anything but that. Have some compassion and sense of Fardhu Kifayah, for God’s sake.
Enacting laws and conducting operations to sweep homeless people and beggars under the carpet and pretending they don’t exist will not solve the problem nor will it help them. What is worse is wanting to punish people and organisations wanting to provide assistance. Whether it is Ramadan or any other month, there is nothing wrong with helping others. Feeding and helping those in need is not a crime!
Where is our compassion as human beings? Isn’t it a good thing that Malaysians are helping others and those in need? What kind of society would we be if we forget those who are less fortunate and been left behind or fallen through the cracks?
The existence of these soup kitchens should not be seen as a criticism of the government. People understand that the government cannot be everywhere every time. There is so much need and so much to do. As responsible members of society, we must also do our part.
I urge the readers of this column to volunteer their time and energy with the soup kitchens and faith-based groups in Kuala Lumpur. There are many. Find one and sign up for one session this weekend, on Monday night or as many nights as possible till the end of Ramadan. I will be doing that myself.
Show them that they have our support in their work to help others! They, and the many communities who depend on them, need to know that we care and stand with them.
* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.
