A distressing photo circulated on social media yesterday, showing a baby being placed on the shoulder of the road, begging along with his family.
The photo shows the baby lying alone on the shoulder of the road, with an overturned bottle filled with milk beside him. Three people, believed to be the baby’s family, are sitting not far away.
Netizen Rosli posted this photo on his personal Facebook yesterday afternoon and said sadly that adults use children, even babies, to beg in order to gain public sympathy.
“These beggars are very common in Sabah, with the highest concentration in the urban areas of Tawau and Lahad Datu. They used to beg beside shops and restaurants, but now they beg at traffic lights, intersections, traffic circles, and sometimes even on foot in traffic jams. The situation is It’s worrying.”
He said that in life, personal safety is very important, but these people do not hesitate to beg in traffic jams in order to gain sympathy.
“Their modus operandi is simple, they ask the public to donate money. Young children become victims, sometimes using babies as ‘bait’.”
He pointed out that people have made many complaints through social media and even government departments, but so far, this issue has not been resolved. He hopes the government can take action.
Netizens left comments pity for the baby under the post. Some thought Rosli should just pick up the baby and take it to a nearby police station, or call the relevant units.
Rosli responded that he tried to take the baby away at that time, but the family members who believed it was the baby immediately stopped him, but then left the baby aside in order to gain public sympathy.
Some netizens said that they thought it was garbage at first glance, but turned out to be a baby.
