Malaysian beggar claims $100 daily earnings, owns SUV

This discovery was made during a crackdown on begging at the Sri Jaya night market in Maran District, Pahang State, as reported by the Straits Times last Friday.

While conducting routine checks, officers from the district’s Social Welfare Department encountered the man dressed in a grey robe and Muslim skull cap, seeking alms with a paper bag to garner sympathy. Initially unresponsive, leading officers to believe he might be deaf and mute.

Undeterred by the initial lack of response, the officers continued to probe, asking for his identity card. The man ultimately broke his silence, stating he had left the document in his car.

The officers were further astonished to find out that the man owned a Proton X70, a premium SUV with a price range of 123,800 to 128,800 Malaysian ringgit ($25,900-$26,900).

The man also admitted to earning up to RM500 from begging for four to five hours at night markets. Moreover, he has been receiving a monthly RM450 allowance from the welfare department since 2001 due to his disability, as per AsiaOne.