Woman trying to find a home for her family soon after losing dad, brother in house fire - Nation...

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Kota Kinabalu, Sabah http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/04/19/Single-mum-at-her-wits-end-Woman-trying-to-find-a-home-for-her-family-soon-after-losing-dad-brother/

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DrMAZA.com - Zakat

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https://www.facebook.com/DrMAZA/posts/10152628756912990

 Zakat

Saya tidak menafikan usaha-usaha baik pengurusan zakat yang telah pun berjaya dilakukan. Kita tahu, zakat kita banyak. Jika dihimpun seluruh negara, mungkin mencecah lebih 1.5 billion. Itu setiap tahun. Bangunan-bangunan zakat cantik dan indah. Iklan-iklan mengutip zakat juga canggih dan mahal. Gaji-gaji yang terlibat mengurusnya jangan ditanya lagi. Cara membayar zakat juga dipermudahkan dengan pelbagai kaedah dan teknologi. Iklan-iklan kutip zakat mahal dan hebat. Tiba-tiba ada si miskin kita terpaksa merintih simpati dari pihak lain termasuk gereja?

Ada pegawai zakat bersifat begitu meterialistik. Berwajah manis jika hadir di depannya pembayar zakat, tapi berwajah suram jika yang hadir itu pemohon zakat. Tiada semangat dakwah dan ukhuwwah Islamiyyah. Pemohonan sulit dan sukar. Apatahlagi jika mak cik tua yang uzur disuruh mengisi borang. Maka, pemohon zakat bagaikan peminta sedekah. Sebab itu barangkali ramai fakir yang tidak sanggup ke pejabat zakat.

Jika program ‘Bersamamu’ boleh menemui si fakir saban minggu, kenapa pula ada pihak zakat yang gagal mengesan mereka. Jika usaha mengutip zakat begitu hebat, alangkah baik dihebatkan juga usaha mencari mereka yang layak menerima zakat. Mencari orang miskin itu penting, bukan menunggu mereka datang. Bukan semua yang miskin sanggup atau dapat datang kepada pejabat zakat.

Menurut al-Quran, yang miskin tidak meminta itu lebih patut diutamakan. Firman Allah (maksudnya): “(Pemberian sedekah itu) adalah untuk golongan fakir miskin yang telah menentukan dirinya (dengan menjalankan khidmat atau berjuang) pada jalan Allah (membela Islam), yang tidak berupaya mengembara di muka bumi (untuk berniaga dan sebagainya); orang yang jahil menyangka mereka kaya, kerana mereka menahan diri daripada meminta-minta. Engkau kenal mereka dengan (melihat) tanda-tanda mereka, mereka tidak meminta daripada orang ramai secara mendesak-desak, dan (ketahuilah), apa jua yang kamu belanjakan dari harta yang baik maka sesungguhnya Allah sentiasa mengetahuinya”.( Surah al-Baqarah ayat 273)

Berilah zakat kepada mereka, kerana itu memang hak mereka. Jangan jadikan mereka pengemis di pejabat zakat. Berilah dengan kasih dan perancangan agar mereka keluar dari daerah kemiskinan. Bukan RM 100 ataupun 200 yang menyebabkan mereka akan beratur mengemis zakat setiap tahun.

Kata Saidina ‘Umar r.a.:“Apabila engkau memberi zakat, kayakanlah mereka”. Kata Ibn Hazm (meninggal 456H): “Apa yang kami tahu tiada sahabah yang berbeza dalam hal ini” (Ibn Hazm, Al-Muhalla 4/280, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘ilmiyyah).

Bahkan zakat boleh diberikan kepada bukan muslim yang miskin atas peruntukan fakir dan untuk dakwah atas peruntukan muallaf. Lihatlah perbahasan fekah yang lebih luas. Jika zakat berfungsi, bukan muslim juga akan tertarik dengan Islam. Jika ia tidak berfungsi, yang sudah Islam pun ingin keluar dari Islam!

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DBKL installs bench dividers to combat vagrancy

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http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/dbkl-installs-bench-dividers-to-combat-vagrancy



KUALA LUMPUR, July 22 — Foo spends the night salvaging recyclable waste from piles of rubbish discarded by shop owners along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in the city. When he grows tired of walking the 2km stretch, he often lays down for a nap on the cool wooden benches held up by three-foot long concrete legs along major one-way road. But Foo told The Malay Mail Online today that he had to sleep on the floor of the sidewalk last night because the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has installed steel bench dividers painted in luminescent green, which restricts him from stretching out his legs. He walks away looking exasperated, muttering under his breath, “Mahu tidur kejap pun, dia tak suka (Even to rest for a bit, they don’t like it).” Foo is among thousands of homeless, who have made the city’s streets and back alleys their home for years. It is unclear when the dividers were fitted, but Dapur Jalanan, a soup kitchen that hands out meals on wheels, spotted the steel bars yesterday night. In the photo tweeted by the soup kitchen, the non-profit organisation remarked, “Mungkin ini hadiah hari raya dari PBT kepada warga miskin kota (maybe this is a Hari Raya gift from the local council to city’s poor folks).” Dapur Jalanan could not be reached for comment. “DBKL said they would meet the soup kitchens operating in the city in town hall meeting, but this just shows that the crackdown is very real… this is a trial exercise by DBKL,” said Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower) president Janarthani Arumugam, when contacted today. 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. A DBKL media officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that City Hall installed the dividers to deter the homeless from “turning the benches to beds”. “You think people will sit on the benches after they (the homeless) have slept on them? It is just to make sure it is not misused,” said the officer when contacted. But Janarthani said the measure was uncalled for when there are not enough shelters in the city to home vagrants. “I note terrible apathy in these officers,” she said adding that by installing the steel dividers “they are making sure Kuala Lumpur is only exclusive for people of certain class”. She pointed out that the Federal Territories Ministry, which is in charge of the city, had promised to schedule and host a town hall meeting with the non-governmental groups which run the soup kitchens in the city before implementing any preventive measures. “They are not sincere, because the community was very willing to work with DBKL,” she said. The ministry also could not be reached for comment.

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City Hall metal brackets on benches cruel to vagrants, say KL soup kitchen

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http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/city-hall-metal-brackets-on-benches-cruel-to-vagrants-say-kl-soup-kitchen


City soup kitchen Dapur Jalanan is opposing metal brackets on public benches in Kuala Lumpur, describing City Hall's move to get rid of vagrancy as a "cruel and inconsiderate attack on the homeless community".

City Hall has started installing the brackets on public benches in the capital city's main thoroughfare of Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, from the Chow Kit area to Dataran Merdeka.

The soup kitchen urged City Hall to respect the Federal Territories (FT) Ministry’s on-going consultation with the homeless community, soup kitchens and non-governmental associations (NGOs).

“This shocking move by City Hall is a disregard towards the spirit of negotiation as it happened without our knowledge, while we were still waiting to have our second meeting with the FT ministry,” Dapur Jalanan coordinator Hadi Khalid said in a statement.
He added the soup kitchens and NGOs were also in the midst of arranging a Town Hall meeting for the ministry and homeless community.

“This negative and aggressive gesture has also sabotaged our efforts in coming up with policy decisions to fix the issue of homelessness. It is a direct prejudice against the community, which will make them doubtful of the government’s honesty in dealing with their problems,” he added.

“I believe that Tengku Adnan’s (FT Minister) idea of cleaning Kuala Lumpur (KL) from vagrants is flawed. The installation of metal brackets is an eyesore that actually does more damage to the city’s image and the reputation of ‘Malaysian Hospitality’.”

He added that City Hall's latest move portrayed Malaysians as an apathetic and uncaring society especially among tourists during Visit Malaysia Year 2014. – July 24, 2014.

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Widow of slain cop in Mabul gets RM20,000

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http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/269767

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Sudah tiba masanya zakat perlu diaudit secara terbuka – Fahmi Zainol

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Kewajipan membayar zakat bagi yang berkemampuan sudah termaktub dalam rukun Islam iaitu rukun yang keempat di mana zakat tersebut layak diterima oleh lapan golongan asnaf seperti yang disyariatkan oleh Islam. Berdasarkan statistik negara juga menunjukkan bahawa kaum Melayu yang menganut Islam masih mendominasi kemiskinan di negara kita berbanding kaum-kaum lain. Lihat saja golongan gelandangan, golongan meminta sedekah terutama di kota raya, rata-ratanya ialah kaum Melayu dan beragama Islam. Persoalannya dimanakah pengagihan wang zakat yang disalurkan kepada mereka yang selayaknya? Persatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (PMUM) berpendirian sudah tiba masanya zakat perlu diauditkan. Antara sebab dan musababnya ialah? [Integriti] Rakyat Malaysia memberikan keyakinan mereka terhadap badan zakat untuk menguruskan duit kutipan zakat, namun begitu sering terpampang di dada-dada akhbar bahawa masih ramai golongan asnaf yang belum menerima hak mereka. Hal ini terbukti daripada laman web kerajaan menyatakan golongan miskin tegar dari masyarakat Melayu paling tinggi iaitu 1.1 % berbanding masyarakat Cina dan India iaitu 0.1% dan 0.3%. Pada tahun 2012 sahaja, orang Melayu mendominasi tahap kemiskinan negara sebanyak 64.8% dan selebihnya adalah kaum lain. Ini menimbulkan persoalan di kalangan golongan Muslim terutamanya terhadap sejauh manakah ketelusan badan zakat dalam menguruskan pengagihan wang zakat. Timbul juga pelbagai persoalan antaranya tentang kelayakan yang perlu ada pada badan yang bertanggungjawab dalam menguruskan hal ini, berapakah jumlah wang zakat yang sepatutnya disalurkan? Siapakah yang sepatutnya layak menerima wang zakat? Bagaimanakah proses golongan asnaf dalam menerima wang zakat tersebut? Dan sebagainya. Sesungguhnya Islam melarang penganutnya daripada melakukan amalan yang tidak bermoral kerana ini akan menjadi punca kepada penindasan rakyat miskin.

Ketelusan

Dalam proses-proses yang dijalankan oleh pihak bertanggungjawab, perlu adanya dokumen-dokumen rasmi dan dokumen ini perlu disemak serta diuar-uarkan kepada masyarakat umum. Proses ketulusan ini perlu dilaksanakan agar tidak timbul lagi persoalan di kalangan rakyat dan persepsi buruk kepada badan zakat. Proses ini juga melambangkan ketelusan pihak yang bertanggungjawab menguruskan urusan zakat ini.

Solusi

Secara izharnya, di peringkat PMUM mencadangkan, kutipan wang zakat di negara kita perlu diaudit oleh pihak yang berintegeriti sebagai contoh Jabatan Audit Negara dimana dengan mewujudkan satu jawatankuasa baru dalam menguruskan hal zakat seperti mana ekonomi negara diaudit oleh Jabatan Audit Negara.

Kesimpulannya

Solusi yang diberikan oleh pihak PMUM ini sedikit sebanyak mampu mengurangkan kadar kemiskinan terutamanya orang islam sendiri, disamping memastikan ketulusan dan integiriti dapat diwujudkan dalam organisasi yang menguruskan pungutan zakat ini. – 20 Julai, 2014.


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Six siblings face difficult times after mum disappears - The Rakyat Post

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PRAI, July 13:

Six siblings in Taman Cempedak, Tasek Gelugor, here, have sunk into the depths of misery since their father succumbed to a stroke two years ago.

Their mother, who remarried a drug addict, has also disappeared since January.

Noor Hamizah Basir, 22, who is the eldest of the six siblings, said she was now forced to take over as head of the family to support her younger siblings by working as a clerk in a factory.

“Last January, my mother (who has become a drug addict herself) and her husband were arrested by police.

“We have failed to keep track of their whereabouts although there was news that she had been released,” she told reporters at her home here today.

She said with an income of about RM900 a month, it was not enough to cover all their expenses as she also had to pay for a home loan of RM220 per month in her mother’ name, in addition to paying the utility bills.

Noor Hamizah said her sister Noor Syazwanizzah, 21, was working at a supermarket nearby, but her income was just enough for her personal use.

“My income is not enough as I also bear the expenses of my four other siblings, who are studying, namely Muhammad Nasrul, 19, who is studying at the National Youth Skills Institute in Bukit Mertajam, and a fourth sibling, Noor Syamimi, 16, who is in Form Four.

“The fifth sibling, Noor Syazana, nine, is studying in Year Three, while my youngest brother, Muhammad Adam, five, is still in kindergarten.”

Their late father was a retired Public Works Department employee and has a pension, but the money can only be withdrawn by their 41-year-old mother.

“I worry what will happen if any of my siblings fall sick. Where will I go for money to take them to the clinic or buy medicine?

“Prior to this, our home was almost auctioned off by the bank for not paying the instalments and the electricity was also cut.

“Luckily, our uncle and aunt helped us, but I do not want to impose on them any more as they also have to pay for their own expenses.”

Noor Hamizah hoped her mother would return home to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri together with them because the youngest one really missed her.

Tasek Gelugor Member of Parliament Datuk Shabudin Yahaya, who visited the six siblings, said they could be adopted to ensure they got proper attention.

For a start, he handed over a cash assistance of RM1,700 to the six siblings to prepare for Aidilfitri and as expenses for daily essentials.

“I will also bring this case to the attention of the Social Welfare Department in the hope they can get a monthly living assistance to ease their burden.”

People who want to help the six siblings can contact Noor Hamizah at 019-5578507 or put their contribution into her Bank Simpanan Nasional account 0713341000096976.

http://www.therakyatpost.com/news/2014/07/13/six-siblings-face-difficult-times-mum-disappears/

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Melayu minta sedekah: Zakat buat apa, soal NGO?

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Building in Chow Kit to be turned into homeless shelter

A building in Chow Kit will be turned into a shelter for the homeless, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said in a report by Bernama today. He said a few storeys of the building would house sleeping cabins for the homeless while the ground floor would be equipped with a health centre for them. Ahmad Phesal was speaking to reporters after accompanying Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who dropped by at a soup kitchen and met with the homeless in the vicinity of the Cahaya Suria building, Jalan Tun Perak, last night. Najib, who was accompanied by Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, spoke to several homeless people during the walkabout. Meanwhile, Rohani said the prime minister wanted the homeless aged 60 and above to be sheltered at Rumah Seri Kenangan which is under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry's administration. On children living with their homeless mothers or fathers, she said it was difficult to address the problem if the parents refused to allow the Welfare Services Department to look after their children. "If possible, we want to look after the children of homeless parents while they look for work. As the parents do not want to be separated from their children, we have respect their wishes," she said. – Bernama, July 10, 2014. - See more at: http://ift.tt/1xVO1U2



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Tempat khas buat gelandangan siap enam bulan lagi, kata Najib

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak berkata sebuah tempat khas untuk menempatkan golongan gelandangan di ibu kota dijangka siap dalam tempoh enam bulan akan datang. "Ia tidak patut lama... dalam enam bulan akan siap," katanya kepada pemberita selepas melakukan tinjauan secara mengejut aktiviti Dapur Jalanan di sekitar Jalan Tun Perak malam tadi. Najib berkata selain menyediakan tempat tidur pada waktu malam buat gelandangan, tempat khas itu juga akan dilengkapi kemudahan bilik mandi serta lokar untuk menyimpan barangan golongan kurang bernasib baik itu. "Itu yang dia perlu, bukan flat, tetapi tempat di mana dia boleh tidur supaya tidak tidur di tepi jalan," katanya. Najib turut melahirkan penghargaan kerajaan terhadap peranan yang dimainkan sukarelawan khususnya yang terlibat dalam menyediakan makanan dan minuman serta bantuan kesihatan kepada golongan gelandangan di ibu kota. Perdana menteri yang tiba pada 10.40 malam meluangkan masa kira-kira sejam melihat sendiri aktiviti pengagihan makanan dan minuman oleh sukarelawan Dapur Jalanan, selain turut berjalan kaki melihat keadaan di sekitar Bangunan Cahaya Suria. Najib, yang turut ditemani Menteri Wilayah Persekutuan Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor serta Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim, meluangkan masa untuk beramah mesra dengan beberapa gelandangan yang tidur di tepi jalan, termasuk di perhentian bas. Isu gelandangan di ibu kota menjadi topik hangat kebelakangan ini termasuk apabila Kementerian Wilayah Persekutuan membuat keputusan melarang Dapur Jalanan daripada beroperasi dalam lingkungan 2km dari pusat beli belah terkemuka Lot 10 di Jalan Bukit Bintang di sini, minggu lepas. Namun, pada Selasa, Tengku Adnan menarik balik arahan tersebut dan memberi peluang kepada badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang menjalankan aktiviti Dapur Jalanan untuk beroperasi di kawasan itu sehingga 16 Ogos ini, iaitu selepas sambutan Aidilfitri. Sejurus tiba, perdana menteri meninjau aktiviti sukarelawan Pertiwi Soup Kitchen yang mengedarkan nasi berlauk ayam bersama buah epal, kopi O panas, sirap, roti bun, biskut wafer dan minuman kotak kepada gelandangan, kebanyakannya warga emas di kawasan tersebut. Najib turut diberi penerangan mengenai aktiviti Pertiwi Soup Kitchen oleh pengasasnya Munirah Abdul Hamid. Ketika mengadakan tinjauan di sekitar Bangunan Cahaya Suria, Najib turut menegur seorang lelaki warga emas yang sedang tidur di sebuah perhentian bas dan beliau terkejut apabila menyedari perdana menteri berdiri di sebelahnya. Najib turut meluangkan masa hampir 10 minit bertanya khabar kepada bekas pemandu teksi Lim Kim Hua, 63, yang terpaksa hidup bergelandangan kerana tiada keluarga untuk menjaganya. Perdana menteri juga sempat menjenguk seorang ayah dan anak lelakinya yang berusia kira-kira dua tahun yang sedang nyenyak tidur beralaskan plastik di siar kaki Jalan Silang. Najib turut bertanya khabar dengan satu-satunya wanita yang ditemui tidur di tepi Jalan Silang itu iaitu Norliza Mat Zain, 42, yang berasal dari Teluk Intan dan datang ke Kuala Lumpur untuk menemani suaminya mendapatkan pekerjaan. Bagaimanapun suaminya kini berada dalam penjara dan bakal dibebaskan sebelum Aidilfitri ini. Najib juga turut mendengar luahan hati bekas penjual kereta Tan Yap Heng, 70-an yang mendakwa sudah 20 tahun hidup bergelandangan berikutan tidak mampu untuk mendapatkan pekerjaan kerana faktor usia dan pernah dirompak. Tan memberitahu perdana menteri bahawa setiap kali beliau memohon bantuan dari agensi kebajikan kerajaan, permohonan beliau sering ditolak kerana beliau tidak mempunyai alamat tempat tinggal tetap. – Bernama, 10 Julai, 2014. - See more at: http://ift.tt/1mLttLy



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Boy's Charity Lemonade Stand Has Raised Enough To Buy 330 Wheelchairs For People In Need

http://ift.tt/1mJQtVo If this boy can help others, why it is so hard for our Gov to help the homeless and those who in need?



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'Ku Nan's foreign beggars claim belied by gov't study'

http://ift.tt/1xKP3Cg Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor’s claim that most beggars in Kuala Lumpur are foreigners is contradicted by an earlier government study, said soup kitchen Dapur Jalanan coordinator Adam Adli Abdul Halim. In the 2010 study by the Department of Welfare, he said, 99.3 percent of homeless persons interviewed are Malaysians. More to follow: http://ift.tt/1xKP3Cg



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Homeless - But Not Heartless

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Soup kitchens more than just feeding the poor, says founder

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Reach Out reaches out to the poor every day, rain or shine - The Rakyat Post

“Welcome to our office! The streets are our office and is the busiest.” Reach Out Kuala Lumpur founder and president Peter Nicoll’s voice bellowed as 50 or more excited volunteers gathered close to the 53-year-old along bustling Jalan Pudu. A Cityliner bus passed, spewing a cloud of smoke as Nicoll continued: “Here, you won’t be getting any Datuk-ships, Datin-ships or a hero’s medal. “We don’t feed the ego. We feed the poor, the homeless and the destitute. “So, if you’re here for Datuk-ships, not in my NGO,” he said, explaining the brief rules of engagement for the volunteers who had come in large numbers to show their solidarity and support for the non-governmental organisation (NGO). “Usually, we only permit 15 to 20 volunteers. But today is a different story,” Peter said after the briefing, as he wiped a trickle of sweat from his forehead using an old piece of cloth he had brought along. Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had on Thursday called for soup kitchens within a 2km radius of Lot 10 in Bukit Bintang in the city centre to be banned. He also said alms givers would be fined RM150 and beggars and the homeless would be hauled up. This had led the Scottish national to issue an open invitation to Tengku Adnan to visit Ground Zero for himself and observe the work that related NGOs carried out to feed the poor and homeless in the city. “Reach Out KL has been conducting these efforts for the past eight years and we are not going to stop.” Nicoll revealed that it all began in 1998 when he arrived in Malaysia after being appointed to a high-ranking corporate position. “I took a drive around the city and found homeless men rummaging through dustbins for food. That’s when I decided to purchase food and give these men something to eat.” Now, 16 years later, and eight years after the organisation’s formal inception, the small group has grown after word spread, with Nicoll knowing by heart almost every homeless and beggar on the streets in KL. “I know where they live and where they sleep,” he said during the briefing. “Keep in mind, we’re venturing into their bedroom. So, please turn off your camera flash when taking photos.” The NGO is among the four largest soup kitchens within the city, after Kechara Soup Kitchen, Dapur Jalanan KL and Pertiwi Soup Kitchen. “We work every day, regardless of whether it rains or shines, if it is Hari Raya, Christmas or Diwali. “There is no off day for us.” Nicoll explained that each day, run leaders were assigned to organise and oversee the group’s modus operandi for the day. Travelling to six to seven “hot spot” locations, with Masjid Negara, Bangkok Bank, Kota Raya, the old clock tower in Pasar Seni being among the areas the group covers, the group later meets to obtain feedback from new volunteers. “We try to find new ways to improve our services. We’re always looking forward to new suggestions from new volunteers.” Nicoll revealed that in a day, the group distributed about 250 packets of food, which is obtained through friends, families, restaurants and even companies through their corporate service responsibility initiatives. “We never give money, ever. We provide food, clothing and, sometimes, basic health care assistance.” While the majority of Malaysians were glued to their television screens nationwide to watch the Argentina-Belgium World Cup match yesterday, Nicoll led the team, which had then broken into smaller groups, to provide packets of food to the homeless, with some carrying cat food as well. “Many of these homeless adopt kittens and dogs as their pets. Realising this, we bring pet food along as well.” When asked if ministry officials had contacted him after Tengku Adnan made a U-turn on his plans yesterday, Nicoll revealed that he had yet to receive a call from them. “No calls as of yet. But we will wait.” He revealed that Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s Anjung Singgah initiative was created after then minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil approached the NGO five years ago to find a means to end the homelessness debacle. “However, the majority of our suggestions, strategies and feedback were cherry picked for the intervention centre,” he said, adding that Kuala Lumpur City Hall had refused to work together on the effort. “For me, I believe the initiative can be improved upon if the right employers are brought in, along with the collaborative efforts of the relevant agencies. “These people should not only be given food, but counselling services to motivate them,” The former Royal Hong Kong police officer added that punitive measures would not solve the problem in the long run. “Short-term measures would not work if you wish to end the issue once and for all. You have to come down to the ground and see for yourself what it really is like.” It had started to drizzle by the time Nicoll and his group had finished their run for the day at 2am. Their work continues tonight when they go down to Ground Zero again. “We’re not going to stop. This is good work we’re doing and we believe in it.”



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No roofs but homeless have rights

Malaysia’s Destitute Persons Act (DPA) has been used not so much to aid homeless people but to harass them and forcibly remove them “from the eyes of tourists”.



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Live dari Chow Kit [Mahesan Selladurai Video]



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When the good life makes a minister poorer of empathy

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/when-the-good-life-makes-a-minister-poorer-of-empathy

Spare a thought for Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (pic). He lives in a different stratosphere than 99% of Malaysians.

Have you seen his palatial home in the tony neighbourhood of Bukit Tunku, just a short distance away from the Prime Minister's private residence? If you are one of the thousands of motorists travelling along Jalan Duta daily, you would have seen his house.

In his world of plenty, he and his family members want for nothing. The best food. The best accommodation. The best clothes. The best cars. The best air travel. The best holiday destinations. Domestic helpers. Drivers. Bodyguards. Gardeners.

This is his nice, comfortable, sterilised bubble.

He has little clue about the daily hardship of Malaysians; whether it is the clerk at the Treasury with a hand-to-mouth existence or the marginalised on the streets in Kuala Lumpur who often have to forego a hot meal.

When he talks about reaching out to Malaysians and being one with them, what he really is referring to are his exertions with Umno members.

When he talks about empathy (in the very rare occasion when he does talk about empathy) it is with regard to his party members. Not about ordinary Malaysians.

Because his world is his nice bubble.

The needy queuing for food distributed by the Pertiwi Soup Kitchen at Chow Kit in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, July 5, 2014.The needy queuing for food distributed by the Pertiwi Soup Kitchen at Chow Kit in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, July 5, 2014.So, Malaysians should not have been surprised that the Federal Territories Minister asked soup kitchens in the city to shut up shop, and spoke about the homeless and indigent in our society as if they pieces of litter.

He has since fallen back on the chosen defence of the Umno minister (“I was misquoted”). This is a really puzzling defence given that Tengku Adnan is now asking non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help the government provide solutions on handling the vexing issue of the homeless in Kuala Lumpur.

We can only imagine that the good minister must have realised his great folly after his initial statement unleased a gush of criticism.

So now, he is backtracking in the only way he knows how: to pretend he was misunderstood.

But he wasn't misunderstood. We understand him perfectly.

Like many ministers, big shot Umno politicians, he lives in a different world than most Malaysians; in a world surrounded by an excess of everything.

The most important thing missing in this world is EMPATHY – sadly that is what every elected representative and minister must have. Pity that some have no space for that in their palatial mansions or their own hearts. – July 5, 2014.

Getting rid of the poor is not eradicating poverty
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/zan-azlee/article/getting-rid-of-the-poor-is-not-eradicating-poverty

Okay sure. The Federal Territories minister has cleared the air on his remarks regarding soup kitchens operating in the city of Kuala Lumpur.

Apparently, he did not say that soup kitchens providing free meals for the poor and homeless in the city will not be allowed to continue with their work.

His rules are for these soup kitchens to operate only outside a 2km radius from the Lot 10 and Bukit Bintang area, so that they won't dirty the area.

That's a fair and reasonable request, I would say. But I guess that this would still be a good time to talk about the issue of these non-profit soup kitchens and the plight of the homeless.

The fact that anyone can actually think that just by providing free food we are encouraging the homeless and jobless to stay jobless, is ridiculous.

I doubt that a homeless and poverty-stricken person has anything else going to want to stay in that situation, just because he or she gets to eat for free once or twice a week.

By giving free haircuts and maybe a set of clean clothes to them does not mean that they don't face any other problems the rest of their lives and are care free.

For a homeless and jobless person to come out of his situation, cutting off the supply of free hot meals does not help one bit at all.

What needs to be done is to make sure that there are jobs available for them to do. And these jobs need to be able to pay a decent amount of money for them to live a decent life.

And, for them to be able to qualify for these jobs, a good quality education system needs to be in place so that they have the opportunity and are able to gain the knowledge to do these jobs.

The cost of living needs to be at a level that is reasonable so every layer of society will be able to enjoy quality living standards, like having a decent home and affordable health care.

People in Malaysia need to realise that just by getting rid of poor people from sight in the middle of the city does not mean getting rid of poverty in the country. Treat the cause and not the symptom.

It is impossible to eradicate poverty totally. I have travelled to so many countries, from the highly developed like Sweden and Germany, to the highly needy like Myanmar and Afghanistan.

Safe to say that in all these countries, there are bound to be people who are less fortunate. It is just a matter of the varying degrees of poverty.

And this is where the maturity and compassion of a society come in. Remember the popular saying, "the best test of a civilised society is the way in which it treats its weakest members". – July 4, 2014.

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When the good life makes a minister poorer of empathy - The Malaysian Insider

http://ift.tt/Vs1cOQ Spare a thought for Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (pic). He lives in a different stratosphere than 99% of Malaysians. Have you seen his palatial home in the tony neighbourhood of Bukit Tunku, just a short distance away from the Prime Minister's private residence? If you are one of the thousands of motorists travelling along Jalan Duta daily, you would have seen his house. In his world of plenty, he and his family members want for nothing. The best food. The best accommodation. The best clothes. The best cars. The best air travel. The best holiday destinations. Domestic helpers. Drivers. Bodyguards. Gardeners. This is his nice, comfortable, sterilised bubble. He has little clue about the daily hardship of Malaysians; whether it is the clerk at the Treasury with a hand-to-mouth existence or the marginalised on the streets in Kuala Lumpur who often have to forego a hot meal. When he talks about reaching out to Malaysians and being one with them, what he really is referring to are his exertions with Umno members. When he talks about empathy (in the very rare occasion when he does talk about empathy) it is with regard to his party members. Not about ordinary Malaysians. Because his world is his nice bubble. The needy queuing for food distributed by the Pertiwi Soup Kitchen at Chow Kit in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, July 5, 2014.The needy queuing for food distributed by the Pertiwi Soup Kitchen at Chow Kit in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, July 5, 2014.So, Malaysians should not have been surprised that the Federal Territories Minister asked soup kitchens in the city to shut up shop, and spoke about the homeless and indigent in our society as if they pieces of litter. He has since fallen back on the chosen defence of the Umno minister (“I was misquoted”). This is a really puzzling defence given that Tengku Adnan is now asking non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help the government provide solutions on handling the vexing issue of the homeless in Kuala Lumpur. We can only imagine that the good minister must have realised his great folly after his initial statement unleased a gush of criticism. So now, he is backtracking in the only way he knows how: to pretend he was misunderstood. But he wasn't misunderstood. We understand him perfectly. Like many ministers, big shot Umno politicians, he lives in a different world than most Malaysians; in a world surrounded by an excess of everything. The most important thing missing in this world is EMPATHY – sadly that is what every elected representative and minister must have. Pity that some have no space for that in their palatial mansions or their own hearts. – July 5, 2014.



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Setting Up Shop: Meet Food Truck Vendor Azalina Eusope

"Azalina Eusope grew up in poverty on the streets of Malaysia" http://ift.tt/1miYPaE Azalina Eusope grew up in poverty on the streets of Malaysia, the child of street food vendors. She fled Malaysia at 15 to escape poverty and ended up in the States; years later, she borrowed $500 to re-enter the family business in San Francisco. She founded Azalina’s, a Malaysian food business, in 2010 as a food truck, and since then has become a thriving catering business with a line of sauces carried at Whole Foods. This year, Azalina is taking her business to the next level, with her first brick-and-mortar restaurant (in the Twitter building), as well as a 15,000 square foot kitchen (with ovens shipped from Malaysia!) and an urban hydroponic garden to supply the herbs for her food. Azalina is on the it's a far cry from her childhood in Malaysia. But success doesn't come easy, and she doesn't get much sleep — two hours is par, five is a luxury reserved for Saturdays. She has two employees and two kids, and works tirelessly with husband Tim at her side. Meet Azalina in the video above, and if you missed the premiere of Setting Up Shop, check it out here to meet the other small business owner we're filming, Stephen Roginson of Batch Brewing Company in Detroit. Watch Episode 1 to Meet Stephen Roginson of Batch Brewing Company Stephen and Azalina embody the modern entrepreneur — they're fearless, confident, determined and fueled by passion. The stakes are high, and the pressure is on for these underdog small business owners. Over the next few months, Mashable will follow Stephen and Azalina as they hustle, sweat, curse and claw their way to opening day. Be sure to subscribe to the series on YouTube to keep up with the two entrepreneurs on their quest to achieve the American Dream.



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