Don't Give Money to Children Begging, Instead Report to This Hotline - November 2024

Take a walk around the city and you may come across heart-breaking sights of children begging, whether it is at the roadside, LRT stations, or tourist spots. Despite your first instincts being to drop them some spare change, the right course of action here is to not give them money as they could be victims of a syndicate. Instead, report them to the appropriate authorities so they can get the help they need. For syndicates using children for begging, there will be no mercy, warned Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh. She cautioned the public to not give money to the child beggars or performers by the roadside, in restaurants, or in front of houses of worship. The public should also refrain from buying items sold by those children used by NGOs to seek alms. Instead, members of the public should report the matter to the ministry’s 24-hour Talian Kasih hotline at 15999, after which welfare officers will be dispatched to the area to rescue the children. Those guilty of exploiting children for begging can face up to RM20,000 in fines or five years’ jail or both upon conviction under Section 32 of the Child Act, reported The Star. Giving the Help They Need As for those who are homeless, there are 6,936 individuals given temporary lodgings at five Anjung Singgah shelters since they were set up in 2011. From that number, there were 5,022 people who managed to find jobs after receiving counselling and assistance at the shelter. Although it is impossible to achieve zero homeless folk in Kuala Lumpur, vigilance by the public is needed to keep an eye out for them and let them get the necessary help and resources. In 2018, there were 799 homeless people who were rescued from several locations in the city last year. Since January this year, 67 homeless individuals have sought temporary accommodation at the Anjung Singgah shelter in Kuala Lumpur. From that number, 38 have successfully found jobs and become self-sustaining. For more information about parenting and family, please visit Motherhood.com.my.

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