Call to update Destitute Act

The Star

22-05-2025

PETALING JAYA: As the cars wait in line for the lights to turn green, a group is on the move.
Street beggars knocking on car windows have become a common sight in the Klang Valley.
They are also to be found elsewhere – many park themselves along pavements, LRT stations and places where people gather.
The old and outdated Destitute Persons Act 1977 (Act 183) does not have enough enforcement powers and authority to deal with the issue of beggars and the homeless, says lawyer Rajsurian Pillai.
He said there needs to be either new laws or preferably, updates to the existing laws, as the current Act only provides for the protection, care and rehabilitation of those determined to be 'destitutes'.
'The term 'destitutes' is vaguely and broadly defined and the law is also based on colonial anti-vagrancy laws. Many who are caught often return to begging and remain homeless upon release.
'Perhaps, more penal punishments need to be introduced to give the Act more teeth i.e. fines, compounds, community service, imprisonment and other court-determined orders,' he said in response to the issue of the rising number of beggars in the city.
Rajsurian added it was vital to take into account that begging has evolved over time, with some making it a 'career' and syndicates using children or trafficked persons.
Malaysian Anti-Drug Association (Pemadam) human resource development bureau honourary secretary Rashdan Rashid also agreed that firm enforcement is needed under Act 183.
He suggested that fines be imposed on people who give money to beggars.
'In Indonesia, there are several provinces (Surabaya, Jogjakarta and Bandung) where those who are begging are caught and those who give money are fined. This is what is needed to make the Act an effective law.
'When you can no longer give out money to beggars, it immediately hits the nail right on the issue,' he said.
He also said Rela personnel could be used to help guard specific areas where vagrants are known to be present.
Asked on how to handle the beggars from marring the image of the country, Rashdan suggested that they be placed at temporary shelters and given training to pick up new skills.
Kechara Soup Kitchen Society marketing director Justin Cheah, who has been helping vagrants for years, says beggars are not necessarily homeless and homeless people are not beggars either.
'Beggars have now become a common sight in places where there are a lot of people coming and going.
'We need officers from the Welfare Department or local councils to get these people off the streets but we also need transit homes where they can be placed.
'Once they are in these shelters, we need to help them move on with jobs, families and skills. But there are no specific laws to address begging and homelessness,' he said, adding that amendments to Act 183 have been pending without any positive outcome.
On Oct 17 last year, Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad told the Dewan Rakyat that they have identified provisions under Act 183 that require a new, more practical and appropriate approach in addressing the issue of homelessness and begging.
She added that the ministry had examined the findings of the study conducted on the Act.
The result of the study, which was completed in June 2024, includes recommendations on the content, approach and scope of the Bill in handling the issue.