Allowance halted for ‘beggar’ who owns Proton X70

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has stopped providing a disability allowance for a recipient who was found to engage in begging activities and owns a Proton X70 Premium.

Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad (pic) said besides discontinuing the RM450 allowance starting this month, the ministry has also issued a warning and requested the man to sign a letter of undertaking as a commitment to cease begging activities.

"Further investigation found that he is currently employed as a shift supervisor in a bus company, earning around RM2,000 per month. Hence, this individual is no longer eligible for welfare assistance from the Social Welfare Department,” she said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (March 12).

She was responding to a supplementary question from Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat) who wanted to know the actions taken by the ministry and the Social Welfare Department regarding a disabled man who received aid but engaged in begging activities and owned a Proton X70, as recently went viral on social media.

The man, who has disabilities in both hands, was reported to earn up to RM500 within five hours from public donations at a night market before the department in Maran exposed him in February.

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Regarding the ministry’s long-term measures to address the issue of destitute and homeless people, Noraini said it is currently reviewing the Destitute Persons Act 1977.

"The ministry aims to use this study’s findings as a basis for rationalising decisions related to mechanisms for addressing begging, homelessness, recovery, and enforcement aspects,” she said.

For short-term measures, she said the ministry is conducting ad-hoc, scheduled, or periodic operations in hotspot areas such as the Kuala Lumpur city centre that are in line with various related laws.

These acts include the House to House and Street Collections Act 1947, Section 420 of the Penal Code, and Section 27 (c) of the Minor Offences Act 1955 for begging, as well as laws under state and local authorities, namely the Local Government Act 1976 and by-laws.

"The solution to this issue does not solely lie with KPWKM. Therefore, cooperation and support from all quarters, including state governments, local authorities and the public, are highly encouraged,” she added.- Bernama