OPERATORS of soup kitchens in Kuala Lumpur have voiced concerns that the homeless community in the city is choosing to go hungry out of fear of being arrested, following an increase in raids ahead of the Sea Games next month.

A smaller number of the homeless and destitute have been turning up at feeding stations run by several charitable organisations, which claim that Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Social Welfare Department (JKM) are conducting raids to “clear out the streets”.