23-2-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) A startling revelation emerged in the Maran district of Pahang, Malaysia, as Social Welfare Department officers uncovered a man reportedly earning up to RM500 (S$140) daily through begging for a few hours, all while being the owner of a Proton X70 premium SUV.
The unexpected discovery took place during a routine check to eliminate begging activities at the Sri Jaya night market on February 21. Officers noticed a man dressed in a grey robe and Muslim skull cap, holding a paper bag to garner sympathy from passers-by. Despite initial assumptions that he might be deaf and mute, the officers persisted in their questioning, revealing surprising details.
To their amazement, the beggar spoke when asked to produce his identity card, explaining that he had left it in his car. The subsequent shock was the revelation that his vehicle was a Proton X70 premium SUV, valued between RM123,800 and RM128,800.
The unidentified man, a Kelantan resident, confessed to welfare officers that he could earn up to RM500 in just four to five hours of begging at night markets. Intriguingly, he has been receiving a monthly allowance of RM450 from the welfare department since 2001 due to a disability.
Despite the circumstances, the welfare officers opted for a lenient approach, issuing only a verbal warning as it was deemed his “first offence” in the Maran district.
