Public urged not to give alms to beggars

The city’s new public order chief says that he wants to reduce the number of beggars in the capital city.

Jakarta Public Order Agency head Effendi Anas said Wednesday that the public should not give alms to street beggars. Effendi said it was not forbidden to give alms to the needy, but it could not be done on the streets.

“Beggars and street hawkers are forbidden. On the one hand, the streets are not designed for such a purpose. On the other hand, we will not allow begging to become a profession,” Effendi said as quoted by kompas.com.

He said this should not be done during the fasting month. “It's funny. Ramadan is now seen to be identical with the time to beg, not to fast, and people are happy because they can beg,” he said.

Ramadan, which Muslims consider a sacred time that is full of divine blessings, is exploited by some poor people, he said.

Effendi said the public should channel donations using appropriate social institutions. The Public Order Bylaw prohibits people from giving alms to beggars, he said, adding that his agency was still in the process of dissuading people from giving alms and not making arrests.

Those found guilty of giving alms will be subject to a 10-60 day prison sentence.

Effendi urged the public not to consider law enforcement operations directed against beggars as a form of hate against poor people. “We can no longer tolerate the influx of thousands of beggars to Jakarta,” he added.