It would be nice if we could all feel free to give money to help everybody in Jakarta who appeared to be in need, but as we’ve unfortunately learned many times before, there are certain people who are willing to go to terrible lengths to earn easy money that you definitely shouldn’t be helping.
Yesterday, the South Jakarta Social Agency apprehended a 46-year-old man named Udin who was begging for money in front of Pasar Festival Kuningan in Setiabudi, South Jakarta. Udin appeared to have lost an arm at first, but after he was apprehended, it became evident that he hid one of his arms under his slightly oversized red shirt.
It turned out that Udin is one of many people who annually migrate to Jakarta after the Lebaran holidays for a shot at a better life – despite having no job opportunities waiting for them or skills to land jobs in the capital.
“When our officers asked him (Udin), he said he came from Bandung. There he worked as a farmer and he arrived [in Jakarta] after Lebaran,” said South Jakarta Social Agency Head Mursidin, as quoted by Warta Kota.
Udin said that he receives Rp 100-200 thousand each day from begging in front of Pasar Festival from 5pm to 9pm.
Using Udin’s case as an example, the social agency urged the public not to fall for tricks performed by the city’s beggars, saying that their money was better directed towards official charity organizations.
