Decision next year on formulating new law to tackle beggars

 

The authorities are finding it difficult to tackle beggars, some of whom treat begging as a career in big cities like Kuala Lumpur. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A decision on whether to formulate a new law or improve the Destitute Persons Act 1977 to tackle the issue of beggars will only be made after a review of the act is completed next year.

Social Welfare Department (JKM) deputy director-general (strategy), Rosmahwati Ishak said the review, beginning in July, was expected to be completed in September next year.

“There is a need for the act to be reviewed to set the direction on the issue of beggars and the homeless.

“Currently, there is no specific source of authority or legislation for the operation and handling of this group in the country,” she told Bernama.

She said the National Social Council (NSC) meeting held in 2019 had decided that a new and more inclusive act must be enacted to address the issue of the homeless and beggars holistically.

This will take into account the powers and roles of the federal government, state governments and local authorities.

Legal loopholes are among the reasons why begging activities are difficult to curb. As a result, cities like Kuala Lumpur have become a paradise for beggars.

The existing act is only applicable for providing protection and rehabilitation to the group, with no elements of enforcement to tackle the issue.

Under the act, Malaysian adult beggars aged below 60 who have no family, will be placed in Desa Bina Diri, a special home for the destitute.

Those aged above 60 are sent to Rumah Seri Kenangan, run by the welfare department.

There are five institutions in Johor, Selangor, Pahang, Sabah and Sarawak that are homes for destitute persons, including beggars.

From 2017 to 2021, a total of 7,312 people from the group were placed in institutions under the department.

Rosmahwati said the welfare department itself was facing constraints in enforcing the Destitute Persons Act, especially when it involved beggars who moved from one location to another as well as seasonal ones who would carry out their activities during certain periods such as the month of Ramadan.

Apart from that, she said the department also faced challenges in eradicating begging activities by foreigners who were not subject to the act but were under the jurisdiction of other agencies.

Rosmahwati said the public also had a role to play in efforts to tackle the issue. She said among the main challenges faced by the department was the generosity of the public in parting with their money when approached by beggars. This only encouraged them to keep on begging, with some even considering it as their career.

She also advised the public to donate through the right channels, such as the National Welfare Foundation (YKN), registered welfare homes, disaster victims, houses of worship or those who were really in need.

Rosmahwati also expressed her concern over the begging culture on social media.

She reminded those wanting to collect donations for mosques or tahfiz centres to obtain approval from the police or state religious councils.

Asked about beggars returning to begging after leaving JKM institutions, Rosmahwati said they must be given jobs to earn a living. - FMT