By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, March 16: As Malaysians increase their act of sadaqah (charity) during the fasting month, a Federal Minister has cautioned them against certain parties taking advantage of their generosity.
Federal Minister of Women, Family and Community Development-cum-Santubong MP Dato Sri Nancy Shukri said the authorities have identified a number of foreign beggars, with some of them suspected of being linked to a syndicate.
“Even when we have carried out integrated operations to tackle this issue, the begging activities will only slow down for a few days and the beggars will return or change their location from time to time.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) is currently building a detention depot and that is why many of the foreign beggars are placed under the Social Welfare Department (JKM) due to a lack of detention facilities,” she told reporters during the Ihya Ramadan programme held at Surau Darul Hijrah of Darul Hana Housing here today.
She further said Malaysians’ generosity in giving sadaqah also attributed to the emergence of beggars.
In the Peninsula, she pointed out, there are free food and drinks everyday, and such beggars see this situation as an opportunity.
“That is why we have to be careful. Any individual who wishes to do sadaqah must check the background of the recipients,” she added.
At the event, Nancy presented Ramadan aid for 432 recipients from 14 villages under Pantai Damai constituency.
Also present were Pantai Damai assemblyman Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi and wife Datin Siti Shorgayah Ahmad Zaidin as well as National Welfare Foundation (Yayasan Kebajikan Negara or YKN) chief executive officer Nordina Harun. — DayakDaily
