Social Welfare Department deputy director-general Rosmahwati Ishak said the review of the act which would begin in July is expected to be completed in September next year.
Following this, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has taken the initiative to review the act to look into the issue more seriously and as a basis to see whether it is appropriate to formulate a new Act or improve the existing Act. Under the Act, Malaysian adult beggars aged below 60 who have no family will be placed in Desa Bina Diri, a special home for the destitute while those aged above 60 are sent to Rumah Seri Kenangan run by the Department.
Apart from that, she said the Department also faced challenges in eradicating begging activities carried out by foreigners who are not subject to the act but under the jurisdictions of other agencies. "Addressing begging activities is a joint responsibility between government agencies, non-governmental organisations and the public. It is the JKM’s hope that the community can work together to tackle the issue by stop giving alms to beggars,” she said.
She stressed that individuals or organisations wanting to collect donations must obtain the approval from the Royal Malaysia Police or the respective state religious councils for contributions that were related to the construction of mosques or tahfiz centres.