Source: TR EMERITUS
Manpower Minister encounters a PRC beggar
December 11th, 2014 | Author: Editorial
Minister Tan Chuan-Jin
Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin posted a message on his Facebook page [Link] yesterday (10 Dec).
While he was on his way to his Meet-the-People session in the evening, he came across a man around 50 or 60 years of age, begging outside the St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Begging, of course, is illegal in Singapore. Under the Destitute Persons Act (cap 78):
Thinking that the man needed help, Mr Tan stopped to talk to him.
As it turns out, the man was from China.
“He didn’t seem keen to talk and I soon realised why. He was from China,” Mr Tan wrote.
“I asked him if he had problems. Asked him why he was here. Couldn’t get a coherent answer. Said he came by to 看看, look-see.”
Mr Tan then asked him if he was in need of help and why he spent all his money to come all the way to Singapore.
Mr Tan took a look at his passport and found out that the man, in fact, has just arrived from Kuala Lumpur. He was in Kuala Lumpur too.
“A kind young man let me use his phone to record the details,” Mr Tan said,
“Will ask relevant agency to follow up and if he needs help, for the embassy to assist. I doubt if we’d be able to find him though… he said he stayed in Toa Payoh but didn’t have an address.”
Mr Tan added, “I guess if it warrants being flagged up, then the only place we’d next pick him up would be at immigration when he departs.”
Mr Tan said he has spoken to many on the streets who seem to have difficulties, but this man is the first whom he has encountered to be a foreigner.
“He was certainly well placed, and did elicit a sympathetic response. While he may genuinely have problems, something tells me that he is taking advantage of our generosity and kindness,” Mr Tan concluded.
Tip of the iceberg
On his Facebook page, many netizens have written in to say that such an incident is merely a tip of the iceberg. Such incidents have been going on for years in Singapore:
What do you think?
Manpower Minister encounters a PRC beggar
December 11th, 2014 | Author: Editorial
Minister Tan Chuan-Jin
Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin posted a message on his Facebook page [Link] yesterday (10 Dec).
While he was on his way to his Meet-the-People session in the evening, he came across a man around 50 or 60 years of age, begging outside the St Andrew’s Cathedral.
Begging, of course, is illegal in Singapore. Under the Destitute Persons Act (cap 78):
Penalty for begging
4. – (1) Any person being a habitual beggar found begging in a public place in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance to persons frequenting the place or otherwise to create a nuisance shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
(2) In this section, “habitual beggar” means a person who on at least 2 previous occasions was found begging in a public place in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance to persons frequenting the place or otherwise to create a nuisance and was in consequence thereof required on those 2 occasions to reside in a welfare home.
4. – (1) Any person being a habitual beggar found begging in a public place in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance to persons frequenting the place or otherwise to create a nuisance shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.
(2) In this section, “habitual beggar” means a person who on at least 2 previous occasions was found begging in a public place in such a way as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance to persons frequenting the place or otherwise to create a nuisance and was in consequence thereof required on those 2 occasions to reside in a welfare home.
Thinking that the man needed help, Mr Tan stopped to talk to him.
As it turns out, the man was from China.
“He didn’t seem keen to talk and I soon realised why. He was from China,” Mr Tan wrote.
“I asked him if he had problems. Asked him why he was here. Couldn’t get a coherent answer. Said he came by to 看看, look-see.”
Mr Tan then asked him if he was in need of help and why he spent all his money to come all the way to Singapore.
Mr Tan took a look at his passport and found out that the man, in fact, has just arrived from Kuala Lumpur. He was in Kuala Lumpur too.
“A kind young man let me use his phone to record the details,” Mr Tan said,
“Will ask relevant agency to follow up and if he needs help, for the embassy to assist. I doubt if we’d be able to find him though… he said he stayed in Toa Payoh but didn’t have an address.”
Mr Tan added, “I guess if it warrants being flagged up, then the only place we’d next pick him up would be at immigration when he departs.”
Mr Tan said he has spoken to many on the streets who seem to have difficulties, but this man is the first whom he has encountered to be a foreigner.
“He was certainly well placed, and did elicit a sympathetic response. While he may genuinely have problems, something tells me that he is taking advantage of our generosity and kindness,” Mr Tan concluded.
Tip of the iceberg
On his Facebook page, many netizens have written in to say that such an incident is merely a tip of the iceberg. Such incidents have been going on for years in Singapore:
Wayne Wong: This encounter is but only a tip of the icebergs’ of “beggars” from China, that pollutes this island. There remains many, much more – invisible to authorities. Now, how did these people enter Singapore ?
Freya Ho: Now then U know this………shocked………it’s been like this for years……………….PRC ahMas fighting with local ahMas for discarded cardboard cartons………PRC ahGong fighting with local ahGong tissue sellers at hawker centres.
Yusri Mohd: My God Mr Minister! Where have u been? This is not new. Ever since the floodgate wide wide open for any tom dick n harry i have been seeing a lot of PRCs begging, selling tissue and what not. Go to Seah Im Food Centre during lunchtime. See old couple with PRCs accent selling tissues. Not to mentioned prostitutes. Pls lah sir, this have been going on for some time already.
Li Xu: Foreigners on tourist visit pass making bucks tax free? Is our open door policy far too open?
TF Liang: He is certainly taking advantage of the system, and this has been happening for the past 10 years.
Eileen Tay-Tseng: It is very common to see PRC begging or selling tissue papers nowadays in sgp!!!
Athena Zhou: Sir,many of them has been on social visit pass to work as performing artiste in ktv and nightclubs but holding social visit pass
Vince Wong: This is not common anymore. More of this kind could be seen near temples, mosques and etc. They also selling tissues!
Freya Ho: Now then U know this………shocked………it’s been like this for years……………….PRC ahMas fighting with local ahMas for discarded cardboard cartons………PRC ahGong fighting with local ahGong tissue sellers at hawker centres.
Yusri Mohd: My God Mr Minister! Where have u been? This is not new. Ever since the floodgate wide wide open for any tom dick n harry i have been seeing a lot of PRCs begging, selling tissue and what not. Go to Seah Im Food Centre during lunchtime. See old couple with PRCs accent selling tissues. Not to mentioned prostitutes. Pls lah sir, this have been going on for some time already.
Li Xu: Foreigners on tourist visit pass making bucks tax free? Is our open door policy far too open?
TF Liang: He is certainly taking advantage of the system, and this has been happening for the past 10 years.
Eileen Tay-Tseng: It is very common to see PRC begging or selling tissue papers nowadays in sgp!!!
Athena Zhou: Sir,many of them has been on social visit pass to work as performing artiste in ktv and nightclubs but holding social visit pass
Vince Wong: This is not common anymore. More of this kind could be seen near temples, mosques and etc. They also selling tissues!
What do you think?
End Of Article
