SANDAKAN – Sandakan, famous for its wildlife sanctuaries and wide range of fresh and delicious seafood, is fast gaining popularity on social media for the wrong reasons.
Over in Midtown, syndicates are believed to be taking advantage of impoverished children by making them beg for money, with many residents fearful.
Facebook posts, which have since gone viral, show children being aggressive toward drivers, kicking their cars and blocking their way if they refuse to donate cash.
According to a Facebook post shared on Sandakan Kini Viral, the children were seen asking for money when the driver was inside the car but when given coins, they threw it back into the car and demanded cash notes instead.
When the driver refused and threatened to report them to the police, they flashed their middle fingers at him and blocked his way.
The post has so far sparked many others to share their personal experiences. One Facebook user, Zizi Harim said that she was going to a bank in Midtown when a child followed her to the ATM after she refused to give him money.
“I felt unsafe because I was being followed. I quickly ran back to my car after I got my money from the ATM machine,” she said.
The children are believed to be part of a syndicate, and the advice from Facebook users is that people do not fall prey to them.
“The number of beggars is only going to increase if we keep giving them money. Who knows what they are going to do with the money?
“For all we know, they could be using it to buy glue for sniffing,” Facebook user Mira Abie said.
The citizenship status of the beggars is still unclear, but they often appear dirty and dressed in rags.
Following this, Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong met Kg Perpaduan’s village chief to discuss the matter as it was believed that the children came from that particular village.
Chong said the problem needed a resolution to avoid more serious issues from surfacing.
“I ask that their parents be responsible and look after their children.
“Early prevention from parents is important, and education starts from home.
“We don’t want the children to end up becoming criminals,” he said.
Chong said he is still unclear of the children’s purpose at Midtown, but they should not disturb public safety and create conflict.
He said he is also concerned for the safety of the children, as Midtown has a high traffic volume given the banks, restaurants, and shops in the area.
“What if the children are hit by cars?
“I hope their parents will cooperate and ensure that they solve this problem.
“Members of the public may take this problem to the authorities if it continues,” he said.
Chong said the problem is not only happening at Midtown, but also at other satellite towns in Sandakan.
He hoped community leaders such as village chiefs would advise their communities to not allow their children to loiter out of the village compound, especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic. – The Vibes, May 29, 2021
