PETALING JAYA: Malacca has imposed a severe ban on soliciting and begging from the public. The ban includes those who sell items such as holy books and knickknacks in the name of charity and religious bodies. The law also covers those syndicates using children to peddle items for funding charitable organizations, reported the Star Online today.
Those caught begging or peddling knick-knacks will be brought to court and be punished, warns Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron.
“I have instructed the Malacca Historical City Council (MBMB), Social Welfare Department and Malacca Islamic Religious Council (Maim) to take action against beggars found to have flouted the laws,” he said.
Idris said existing laws under the Local Government, Welfare Department and state Islamic Affairs Department’s enactment will be used to take action against those begging on the streets. Soliciting donations on the streets is considered illegal.
“Those without a steady income are given monthly aid, so we feel there is no need for anyone to turn to begging. We also want to rid the state of those who solicit money from the public by peddling items or religious paraphernalia in the name of charity or religion,” he said.
He also added that the state is aware of syndicates exploiting children by asking them to collect alms at tourist hotspots.
“We have reports that money collected by these children is deposited into accounts of individuals believed to be masterminds of syndicates,” he said.
