MANY were upset last week when news broke about the ban on soup kitchens in the city, following the announcement by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor that they had to move out of the city centre by Monday or face the music.
He said soup kitchens encouraged people to remain homeless and jobless. According to him, many such people, who were given jobs, returned to that life because it was easier. The homeless were called “lazy”; some working for only a few days before they quit.
The homeless and beggars were now fearful of being hauled up by the authorities and placed in halfway homes. Those donating to beggars will also be fined.
Tengku Adnan said soup kitchens in the city would be fined if they did not move out of KL.
This is in line with Putrajaya’s plan to prevent the spread of diseases, like leptospirosis, and to make the city clean. An analogy to this scenario is parents who spend a lot of money decorating homes so that their homes appear beautiful and clean. However, they couldn’t be bothered to spend for their children’s education and wellbeing.
Similarly, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim said tourists were also taking advantage
of the soup kitchens’ charity.
Now, they are delaying the ban on soup kitchens till after Aug 16 in view of Ramadan, where charitable acts are encouraged.
Actually, the homeless aren’t homeless. They turn to soup kitchens because of the extreme poverty they live in. Before soup kitchens, some would go for days without meals because they would give whatever food they could buy to their wives and children.
Everyone, including the homeless, need all the love they can get. The world needs more special people like Munirah Abdul Hamid, who operates Pertiwi Soup Kitchen, and Rick Lee, the founder of Food Aid Foundation, a non-profit organisation that seeks to transform excess food into meals to feed the needy and help to reduce food wastage.
Soup kitchens have been in the streets for more than 30 years. It is not so much about giving food but more about giving people dignity.
These people are not beggars. They are people who have jobs but who do not have enough money to have a place to stay and put food on the table.
Some mothers come with five children and perhaps stay in a small room in Jalan Chow Kit while the husband is in prison.
Ninety five per cent of them have jobs, it’s just that their pay isn’t enough to get them a roof over their heads.
Lee believes it is the responsibility of the world to eradicate hunger.
The foundation collects surplus cooked halal food from hotels, restaurants and food outlets to distribute to the poor.
They also collect non-perishable food that are generally dried, canned or prepacked, from food manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and willing donors and distribute them to charitable homes to help the underprivileged. This includes close-to-expiry date products and discontinued promotional products.
The foundation also collects uncooked raw food from wholesale wet and dry markets and companies with food service operations and prepares them in their central kitchen for distribution to orphanages and welfare homes.
So, the next time you sit down for a meal, think of all the people out there who are less fortunate or who aren’t as fortunate as you.
There is this saying which all of us need to emulate — when Allah blesses you financially, don’t raise your standard of living. Raise your standard of giving.
Today is a gift. Let’s be grateful for it. Remember that unthankful hearts discover no mercies.