In a recent joint operation aimed at curbing street begging, authorities in Johor discovered a disconcerting tactic employed by foreign beggars to manipulate public sentiment.
Seven individuals, aged between 34 and 63, were apprehended in an integrated operation led by the Enforcement Division of the Johor Islamic Religious Department (JIM), in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) of Johor Bahru District, and the Johor State Islamic Religious Department (JAINJ).
Exploiting religion for begging: The disturbing trend
What sets these beggars apart is their exploitation of sympathy-inducing reasons, particularly claiming to fund religious schools or institutions.
This revelation came to light as part of “Ops Bersama,” conducted at 6:30 pm yesterday.
The beggars, consisting of three Cambodian males, two Thai males, and one Indonesian male and female each working in night market stalls, used these excuses to gain public sympathy, reported Harian Metro.
Earn RM300 to RM10,000 per month
Perhaps more shocking than their tactics is the substantial income these beggars were able to amass. Reports indicate earnings of over RM300 per day, translating to a staggering RM10,000 per month.
Baharuddin Tahir, the Director of the Johor Immigration Department, expressed concern over the situation.
He revealed that the operation was initiated in response to public complaints about the increasing prevalence of beggars and foreign donation collectors in the night market.
“They use reasons such as funding religious schools or institutions to gain sympathy,” he stated in a recent press release.
Adding another layer to the issue was that some of the detained beggars admitted to having physical disabilities, yet they also claimed to be capable of substantial daily earnings.
Baharuddin stressed the seriousness with which authorities are approaching the matter, vowing to intensify operations in collaboration with other enforcement agencies in the state to eliminate such exploitative practices.
2 Indonesians caught in immigration web
Two Indonesian nationals among the detainees are believed to have violated immigration laws, specifically Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155), as they lacked valid passes or permits to stay in Malaysia.
Additionally, they were found to be in breach of Regulation 39(b) of the Immigration Regulations 1963 for disregarding established pass conditions.
As part of their commitment to resolving this issue, the authorities have issued notices for the detainees to appear at the immigration office, aiding ongoing investigations.
