Rise in number of beggars

[Roborovskii]

Rise in number of beggars

by Theresa Tan

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNew...ory_284242.html

 

THE number of beggars and vagrants rounded up by the authorities rose sharply in the first six months of this year, with many being foreigners.

The foreigners, who included bogus monks and nuns and the disabled, were found begging at hawker centres, temples and MRT stations during festive periods.

 

Most of these foreign beggars come from China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) told The Straits Times.

 

In the first half of the year, 181 destitute persons - or beggars and vagrants - were picked up. This is a big increase over previous years, which saw an average of 207 destitute persons rounded up each year from 2005 to 2007.

 

The MCYS said foreign beggars and vagrants played a 'significant' role in the increase, accounting for 74 of the 181 people picked up. This compares with 51 for the whole of last year, 29 in 2006, and 21 in 2005.

 

During the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, MCYS officers see more 'women and elderly men from neighbouring countries' begging outside mosques and in Geylang Serai.

 

Foreign beggars are a familiar sight outside the Sultan Mosque on Fridays, when it is packed with worshippers, said Ustaz Mohd Khair Rahmat, a mosque manager.

 

About 10 to 15 beggars, mostly foreigners, will hang around on Fridays and their numbers usually double during Ramadan, he said. Most are from Malaysia and Batam, with some from Pakistan.

 

Ustaz Mohd Khair added: 'The Pakistani beggars are more aggressive. They will ask you for money, saying they are from some orphanage or madrasah in Pakistan. And if you ignore them, they will keep following you and asking you to give.'

 

Earlier this year, the Sultan Mosque began telling its congregation that if they wanted to help the poor, they should donate money to the mosque, which would channel it to genuinely needy cases.

 

On Friday, The Straits Times found over 10 beggars outside the mosque, mostly women. Some had young children in tow. They would not speak to the press.

 

The MCYS patrols about 16 times a month to pick up vagrants and beggars on the streets of Singapore. It then conducts a 'detailed social investigation' into their background.

 

Foreign beggars and vagrants are repatriated and blacklisted by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority.

 

Local destitutes who are found to be 'homeless, without means and without family support' are sent to a welfare home. There were about 1,790 destitutes living in the 10 welfare homes last month.

 

It is an offence to beg in Singapore. Those who have at least two previous begging records can be fined up to $3,000 and jailed for up to two years.

 

Said an MCYS spokesman: 'There is no reason for any needy Singaporean to beg or be a vagrant. If the public detects any person who needs more assistance, they should contact MCYS through the ComCare helpline at 1800-222-0000.'

[Tarzan666]

Really hate those foreign talents who come to beg after Fri prayers,esp during ramadan.

Feel like whacking them...

 

MCYS patrols 16x a month?

 

I have gone to a particular mosque for my fri prayers etc,theres these small group of beggars who are always there.Think they been there for at least 8 years...never get picked up at all??

[Mzrmazda3]

Lots of fakes ones around ...

Edited September 30, 2008 by Mzrmazda3

[Typhoonz]

Then can MCYS come to Blk 58 New Upper Changi Road kopi tiam to catch a fake monk not? Can sit there openly to eat loh mai kai, sio hoon kee and lim lau hor... NB...

[Roborovskii]

Call MCYS @ 1800-222-0000 and pau-toh him. But first take photo and stomp

[Typhoonz]

A bit hard to take peekture leh... He was quarelling with somone last week... Think that guy tried to take his pic...

[Kezg1]

I ever saw a MY van alight a few mak cik & kids just beside the road near ZAm ZAM then I saw them outside

sultan mosque begging....exploiting and that was also during RAmadan

[Route88]

No need to whack,report can liao,wait to see wether "they" got take action or not.

[Route88]

Must report...knn these ppl lazy to work

[Typhoonz]

Many of these in Bedok... Damn jialat man...

[Route88]

Down there very famous...not Ramadhan also have,they sit one corner. But the real farker is the able bodied van driver who bring helpless woman and kids to gain symphaty to beg

[Gearoil]

You taking over A-P-o=L=L-o's duties ar?

 

Anyway, the report is self pawned!

 

Imagine, on one end, ICA let these buggers in...and the other hand, MCYS start to round them up!

[Route88]

Its not eye pleasant to see,the best is not to give any money,sure they go somewhere else.

[Typhoonz]

Someone would still definately give to them one...

[Route88]

Issit

 

Happen to encountered pakistani man giving out small laminated arabic notes and sometimes raise their hand to "blessed" . I think (for those who familiar)if given $2 they will ask for more,not enuff

 

I kena b4,but he press his luck too much,instead of gaining $2 from me,i took back the money and chase him away.

[Typhoonz]

They are like a rash... All how siao one...

 

You gave him $2 to chase him away or what?

[Route88]

Nope,he claim he's a musafir(traveller) need money to eat

[Typhoonz]

It's something like the magic stone scam... It's widely reported that their tactics but yet people still contine to get cheated...