Unfortunately, Malaysia is abundant with homeless people and beggars who are down on their luck and require the general public’s help and kindness to keep themselves fed everyday.
And then there are those who take advantage of that kindness while not actually needing it.
The Maran branch of the Malaysian Social Welfare Department (JKM Maran) took to their Facebook page to share how they stumbled upon a beggar at a night market in Sri Jaya, Pahang, who owns a premium version of Proton’s X70!
They wrote, “An anti-begging operation was carried out to eradicate begging activities at the Sri Jaya night market in Maran. From a distance, a Malay man in a robe and hat was seen standing between umbrellas of the night market stalls while holding a paper bag, asking for the sympathy of the people passing by. Both of the man’s hands looked small, unlike normal hands.”
“JKM Maran enforcement officers approached the man and asked him for his purpose of asking for alms. However, the JKM enforcement officers’ inquiries went unanswered. He looked to be deaf and unable to speak.”
Spotting money inside his paper bag and believing him to be differently-abled due to his hands, as well as his inability to speak, they decided to ask him for his IC but still did not get a response out of the man.
Not one, but two surprise discoveries?
Finally, after some pushing, they surprisingly discovered that he was not deaf and spoke like an able-person. He was only differently-abled in terms of his hands. But, a bigger surprise was yet to come.
“He said that his identity card was in the car. JKM enforcers followed the man to his car. Believe it or not, the person who was just standing around receiving the public’s sympathy for his disabilities was driving a premium Proton X70.”
“Further investigations were carried out by JKM enforcers. He lives in Balok, Kuantan, and goes to night markets to beg. A review also found that he received a Disabled Worker’s Allowance from JKM amounting to RM450 per month since 2001. He also admitted that the premium Proton X70 was his,” they explained.
The beggar also shared that through begging, he can earn up to RM500 in a period of 4 to 5 hours at night markets.
He was later let off with a warning from JKM, who advised the general public to make sure they are donating money to the right people.
“It is not wrong to give donations but do give donations to the right people at the right places.”
We genuinely hope that the beggar turns a new leaf and use the money given and donated to him for necessities only.
What do you think about this? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
Also read: Foreign Man Gets Chased Out of Klang Neighbourhood for Going House to House Asking for Angpow
