TAWAU – Begging activities here appear to have hit a tipping point as MP Christina Liew is now urging the residents here to cooperate with authorities to put an end to vagrancy.
Liew said district police widely believe there is a syndicate running the vagrant operation in the city.
The former Sabah deputy chief minister said Tawau folks can tip off the police if they have knowledge of unscrupulous individuals or groups involved in getting children to beg on the streets.
Vagrancy has become a serious nuisance, especially in the township area, she said.
“The mendicants not only pose a threat to the safety of local residents but are also detrimental to public health as they (mendicants) do not comply with the Covid-19 standard operating procedures.
“A law-abiding society can function effectively as the ‘eyes and ears’ of the police force in helping maintain public order, among others.
“I am happy to learn that Tawau police are in the process of launching an integrated operation against such undesirable activities.
“I am confident they will take appropriate action under the law against the culprits. I wish them success,” Liew said.
District police chief Peter Ambuas claimed they have information on the “people” behind the begging activities, saying they have spotted individuals dropping off and picking up the beggars at their begging spots.
“A vehicle sending and fetching these beggars has been detected.” said Ambuas, adding that most of the beggars were sea gypsies or Palauh (Bajau Laut).
In March, over a hundred homeless sea gypsies were rounded up by Kota Kinabalu City Hall after they had set up a small settlement in Kg Sembulan there.
The sea gypsies had paid a RM40 bus fare to get from Semporna to Kota Kinabalu, where they claimed they were hired by a local wood processing factory but were laid off due to the lockdown.
They were spotted begging near the Taman Sempelang residential area and Sembulan Tengah. – The Vibes, April 12, 2021
