BY: AZURIN SARKAWI

Malaysians are reputedly known to be generous and caring, but when it comes to helping beggars it is important to be unemotional and detached, in order to give them real help which should be to get them back on their feet.

Very often these beggars are nothing more than rascals and unscrupulous in their ways trying to get fast, easy money which, more often than not, is used to feed vices such as smoking, drug addiction, alcoholism or gambling and commercial sex.

This is why “it is by being “cruel” to them by not donating that we are actually being kind to them,” and instead help must be offered by getting them to health and rehabilitation centres where they can turn over a new leaf.

Malaysians must come to understand that they are not solving the problem of begging by giving them a handout instead they are compounding the problem and really creating a dependency mentality.

The better option for beggars is to encourage them to engage in self help activities and not be at the mercy of the general public but to promote independent living free of all kinds of aids and assistance.

The issue of begging is complex and giving donations is an unnecessary stop gap measure which must not be subscribed to by Malaysians and instead a permanent and lasting solution must be found to rid the streets of beggars.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher