KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—Malaysian Immigration officers have arrested 14 Chinese nationals, and seized RM16,000 (US$5,081) in cash, which is believed to be one month’s ncome collected from begging.
Aged 40 to 80, those arrested were believed to have entered Malaysia on tourist visas and were able to live well in the country by begging. With each of them collecting between RM800 (US$254) to RM1000 (US$318) monthly they decided to stay on in Malaysia rather than return to China.
The Immigration Department had earlier received complaints about the beggars and in the early morning of Aug. 24, law enforcement officials raided an apartment in Brickfields, a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, also known as Little India.
According to statements, when the officials first arrived, the tenants were uncooperative, which led to the officials breaking into the unit and arresting 10 men and 4 women.
According to preliminary investigations, the passports of 10 out of the 14 beggars had expired, only 4 of them are holding a valid visa. It is believed they had stayed in Malaysia as beggars for a period of four months to a year. Two out of the 14 beggars have crippled hands and feet.
Begging grounds
According to reliable sources, a man of Chinese nationality known as Mr. Chen was responsible for gathering these beggars and recommended different areas of Kuala Lumpur for them to beg in. Mr. Chen hasn’t been found and officials have not excluded the possibility that Malaysians may be involved in the begging racket.
With begging in Malaysia proving to be profitable, Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department Director Mohd Sufian Omar said it attracts a vast number of foreign beggars to Malaysia, and a large number of those were under the control of gangs. Mr. Sufian said illegal gangs would also choose beggars who were old and crippled to attract sympathy from the public, which would allow them to make more money.
Since there is no legislation in Malaysia outlawing begging, the Immigration Department will charge the 14 Chinese nationals for overstaying. If found guilty, they will be fined up to RM10,000 (US$3,176) each and will be deported back to China.
The Immigration Department indicated the money they made begging will be returned to them.
“Beggar Syndicate”
A 30-year old Chinese beggar told the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Public Services and Complaint Department that a professional Chinese beggar in Malaysia could make up to RM10,000 (US$3,176) per month, which is two or three times more than a white-collar worker.
He said a “beggar syndicate” arranged for him to work as a professional beggar in Malaysia but didn’t pay him the agreed dividend.
He claimed he had been working as a beggar for two years. At night, he stayed in hotels as arranged by the syndicate and in the morning he would wear rags and “work” at the assigned places.
According to another report by The Metro, a Chinese old woman who had lost her home and crops in a flood back in her hometown, came to Malaysia to beg for money.
MCA Public Services and Complaint Department Head Datuk Michael Chong stressed that Malaysian citizens shouldn’t be manipulated by these beggars and asked Malaysians not to offer money in a bid to make begging unprofitable.
There have also been reports of illegal Malaysian agencies luring Chinese nationals into Malaysia with the promise of jobs. The Chinese pay money for nonexistent services and are then left jobless and then in some cases, they resort to begging.
On Aug. 16, Malaysia Immigration canceled a visa on arrival scheme that had been implemented for four years. Countries affected include China, India, and Bengal. The reason for the cancellation is the growing problem of visa abuse.
Aged 40 to 80, those arrested were believed to have entered Malaysia on tourist visas and were able to live well in the country by begging. With each of them collecting between RM800 (US$254) to RM1000 (US$318) monthly they decided to stay on in Malaysia rather than return to China.
The Immigration Department had earlier received complaints about the beggars and in the early morning of Aug. 24, law enforcement officials raided an apartment in Brickfields, a residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, also known as Little India.
According to statements, when the officials first arrived, the tenants were uncooperative, which led to the officials breaking into the unit and arresting 10 men and 4 women.
According to preliminary investigations, the passports of 10 out of the 14 beggars had expired, only 4 of them are holding a valid visa. It is believed they had stayed in Malaysia as beggars for a period of four months to a year. Two out of the 14 beggars have crippled hands and feet.
Begging grounds
According to reliable sources, a man of Chinese nationality known as Mr. Chen was responsible for gathering these beggars and recommended different areas of Kuala Lumpur for them to beg in. Mr. Chen hasn’t been found and officials have not excluded the possibility that Malaysians may be involved in the begging racket.
With begging in Malaysia proving to be profitable, Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department Director Mohd Sufian Omar said it attracts a vast number of foreign beggars to Malaysia, and a large number of those were under the control of gangs. Mr. Sufian said illegal gangs would also choose beggars who were old and crippled to attract sympathy from the public, which would allow them to make more money.
Since there is no legislation in Malaysia outlawing begging, the Immigration Department will charge the 14 Chinese nationals for overstaying. If found guilty, they will be fined up to RM10,000 (US$3,176) each and will be deported back to China.
The Immigration Department indicated the money they made begging will be returned to them.
“Beggar Syndicate”
A 30-year old Chinese beggar told the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) Public Services and Complaint Department that a professional Chinese beggar in Malaysia could make up to RM10,000 (US$3,176) per month, which is two or three times more than a white-collar worker.
He said a “beggar syndicate” arranged for him to work as a professional beggar in Malaysia but didn’t pay him the agreed dividend.
He claimed he had been working as a beggar for two years. At night, he stayed in hotels as arranged by the syndicate and in the morning he would wear rags and “work” at the assigned places.
According to another report by The Metro, a Chinese old woman who had lost her home and crops in a flood back in her hometown, came to Malaysia to beg for money.
MCA Public Services and Complaint Department Head Datuk Michael Chong stressed that Malaysian citizens shouldn’t be manipulated by these beggars and asked Malaysians not to offer money in a bid to make begging unprofitable.
There have also been reports of illegal Malaysian agencies luring Chinese nationals into Malaysia with the promise of jobs. The Chinese pay money for nonexistent services and are then left jobless and then in some cases, they resort to begging.
On Aug. 16, Malaysia Immigration canceled a visa on arrival scheme that had been implemented for four years. Countries affected include China, India, and Bengal. The reason for the cancellation is the growing problem of visa abuse.
