KUALA LUMPUR, 31 JANUARY, 2012: People must stop giving money to beggars and instead offer their contributions to orphanages, non governmental organizations or registered religious centres.

Federal Territories and Urban Well Being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said stopping contributions to beggars can help the government's efforts to eliminate beggars from the streets, because they have become an eyesore to tourists.

"If we don't stop their activities, the streets in Kuala Lumpur will soon be filled with beggars who tend to seek the sympathy of not only locals but tourists as well and that will have a negative impact on the country," he said after launching the eliminate beggars campaign here today.

He added that based on statistics from the Kuala Lumpur Welfare Department, 462 beggars were rescued from the streets of Kuala Lumpur last year compared with 373 in 2010 and 236 in 2009.

Meanwhile, Raja Nong Chik said the one way system in Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Brickfields will resume starting Feb 6.

- Bernama