I REFER to “Rude shock for guard” (The Star, Jan 7). It was indeed a much undignified moment for Lim Tian Swee.

I am appalled by the assumption that anybody who sleeps on the street is a beggar. Not only was Lim treated disrespectfully at Rumah Seri Kenangan, but his assertion that he was employed was also not even taken into consideration.

Furthermore, he was even refused a chance to verify that he was employed, as his mobile phone was taken away by an officer. He was also not allowed to make a withdrawal from the ATM himself to reload his prepaid phone.

To make things worse, the officer had the audacity to demand the PIN of Lim’s ATM card in exchange for the use of his phone. Clearly, this is similar to blackmail!

Finally, when he was released, he was not given anything to enable him to travel back to Kuala Lumpur. If there was not even RM10 in his bank account, how would he return?

If Lim’s claim that RM150 was withdrawn from his bank account by the Welfare Department officer is true, that is a sin in itself. Lim is already struggling to make ends meet, and the officer is making his life more difficult.

If this is what happened, then the Welfare Department officer is not really taking care of the welfare of the people. Such an unethical officer should be given the boot.

HENRY YEW,

Ipoh, Perak.

Source: The Star – January 10, 2008