REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Vice Governor of Jakarta, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (popularly known as Ahok) hopes that Jakarta would be free from beggars next year. To make it happen, Jakarta Provincial Government would be impose fines for people who give money for them.
"All things have rules and it has to be obeyed," Ahok said recently.
The high number of beggars in Jakarta was seen as a cause of people's habit to give money for them. Therefore, there must be sanctions to break this chain.
"If residents - who give the money - are detained, it will scare them. So, we impose fines as punishment," Ahok added.
Issue of beggars in Jakarta was blown up after officers arrested a wealthy beggar, Walang bin Kilon (54 years). His saving reached 25 million IDR stashed in a small box.
He was netted under Pancoran Flyover area, in South Jakarta in an operation held by local Social Sub-Department on Tuesday night. Walang collected the money after 15 days begging activity.