SHAH ALAM, 14 July: Various reactions were received by Facebook users after the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, visited the homeless recently.
Some users wanted the Minister of Federal Territories, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, to apologise for his statement, which they deemed to be ‘orders’ in the form of threats, on the homeless issue.
They are of the opinion that the threat shaped order enraged and received various responses from people from all walks of life.
Fadzulullah Abdullah, said that Najib should ask Ku Nan to apologise to Malaysians for his statement.
“The PM should also ask the minister to apologise for issuing orders in the form of threats which angered and received negative responses, and he should personally conduct damage control,” she said.
In addition to that, Azhar Ameir wants the government to not continue to blame the people when the capable act in aid of the homeless.
He said that that their actions were carried out following the acquisition of responsibility from the government that is not concerned about this issue.
“Berat mata memandand, berat lagi bahu yang memikul (it is harder for the one who endures a misfortune than the one who sees it). The people want to see change and it can only come from those in power. The PM must save the situation, do not mind the words of the sycophantic (Ku Nan). The people must come first, not Ku Nan,” he said.
Meanwhile, for Thiago, Najib’s visit shows the Umno drama beginning.
“Just realised now? Never thought about it all this while? This is the result of rising prices of goods and even prices of homes are on the rise,” said Alexander James.
Najib’s visit was done a day after the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng, made a visit to a soup kitchen in the state.
Lim shed tears of sadness when he saw the state of the homeless in the visit that received extensive coverage.
Najib conducted the surprise visit when protests arose over the Federal Territories Ministry’s decision to prevent the operation of soup kitchens that provide free food to the poor from continuing operations in the city centre.
Najib’s move was coincidentally done after prominent journalist, Datuk A Kadir Jasin, urged minister to emulate Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who often conducted walkabouts while he was Prime Minister.
Recently, the DAP Member of Parliament, Lim Lip Eng, said that Najib was merely trying to gain publicity by visiting the homeless in Kuala Lumpur without bringing about any benefit to them.
NS