Be wary of 'fake' beggars

IPOH: The public is reminded to be cautious when giving out money to beggars who are not poor but still beg for cash.
Exco member Datuk Rusnah Kassim (BN-Behrang) said the government had distributed pamphlets and organised awareness programmes to advise people to be wary of such beggars.
"The public must also know that begging is an offence under the law. These awareness programmes are held in schools and public places," she said in her oral reply to Teh Kok Lim (DAP-Pokok Assam) at the Perak state assembly today.
Rusnah also said that apart from such programmes, integrated operations have been conducted by the relevant agencies against the beggars and ad hoc operations have also been carried out based on complaints from the public.
On the homeless, she said a temporary accommodation centre known as "Anjung Singgah Perak" had been opened since Jan 9, this year in Bandar Ipoh Raya here.
The home set up by Yayasan Kebajikan Negara is a centre for referral intervention, free accommodation and meals, counselling sessions for individuals or in groups.