Nabil Luqman

0f9d2dd4f71434084e2b6094de1865e23abb37bb9f28ca51feeabee679ec9be2

Social

money

viral

tiktok

Social Media

issue

begpackers

tourist

tourism industry

white privilege

Ever since the lockdown era has ended, many countries around the world have reopened their borders to encourage tourism in the country and Malaysia is one of them.
It&rsquo;s a known fact that tourism plays a big role in Malaysia&rsquo;s economy with it contributing up to 6.7% to the country&rsquo;s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2019. It is also the industry which offers the largest sector of employment in Malaysia which consist of a quarter of the workforce.
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/77477fd8bd707bce88f2ca889abd8109b5c46c12e45c94dc4ae1ae1019d99caa" />
Thankfully, our country's tourism is starting to recover and the beauty of our country is attracting many tourists again. But it looks like we are starting to face a problem that&rsquo;s always happening in Southeast Asia.
Begpackers Are Back
For those who don&rsquo;t know what &lsquo;Begpackers&rsquo; are foreign tourists who typically consist of Caucasians who come to Malaysia to travel and later resort to begging locals on the streets after they have run out of money. Typically, you can find them in along the streets of Bukit Bintang, Central Market and Jalan Sultan Ismail.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Ni patut report PDRM ka, DBKL? Atau Imigresen? <a href="https://t.co/mR2JEbEtZI">pic.twitter.com/mR2JEbEtZI</a>
&mdash; 🏴Mi$&cent;ha $elamat🏴 #REVOLUSIS (@Michellelanious) <a href="https://twitter.com/Michellelanious/status/1620345504084406272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Recently, there had been sightings of &lsquo;begpackers&rsquo; sitting on the streets of Bukit Bintang as they held up a sign asking for money to get food and a return flight ticket in Malay.
Twitter user Mischa Selamat (@Michellelanious) posted the video of a couple who sat in front of Public Bank next door to the Grand Millennium Hotel Bukit Bintang. But instead of helping them out, the Twitter user questioned the public opinion of whether it should be reported to the DBKL or Immigration.
At the time of writing this, the tweet had gained over 1.5K Retweets and over 1.7K likes on the social media platform. Many Malaysians had shared their thoughts about the begpackers and many of them expressed hate towards them.
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/67c01dd96ec757efc71534431a40d12ebfd5256d43c1a93f05f01eb5cd357bae" />
Netizens say that they are trying to take advantage of our kindness as the money they get from the public is likely for them to fund their tickets to travel. Unlike our very own local baggers, all they are only asking for money to purchase themselves a meal.
Within Mischa&rsquo;s Twitter thread, it was understood that the issue had been reported to the immigration and DBKL.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Report DBKL done ya PDRM ni sia malas mau masuk balai, kena dress code bagai 😑 Imigresen ada e-aduan nda? <a href="https://t.co/2KqgrSzvhh">pic.twitter.com/2KqgrSzvhh</a>
&mdash; 🏴Mi$&cent;ha $elamat🏴 #REVOLUSIS (@Michellelanious) <a href="https://twitter.com/Michellelanious/status/1620697522837815301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Imigresen done! <a href="https://t.co/VXL0qoPwb7">pic.twitter.com/VXL0qoPwb7</a>
&mdash; 🏴Mi$&cent;ha $elamat🏴 #REVOLUSIS (@Michellelanious) <a href="https://twitter.com/Michellelanious/status/1620720041779171328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>

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The Couple Have Been Around For Quite A While
In another tweet by Twitter user @HolyCannoli09, she states that these begpackers have been around for quite a while now as the tweet also dated from 17 January 2023.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Nature is healing. The begpackers are back 💕 📍Bukit Bintang <a href="https://t.co/IDVrapEQOK">pic.twitter.com/IDVrapEQOK</a>
&mdash; DuckyMomoStanAcc (@HolyCannoli09) <a href="https://twitter.com/HolyCannoli09/status/1615246381454856200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2023</a></blockquote>

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In her tweet thread, she highlighted that those who want to travel should be able to afford it, if they can&rsquo;t then don&rsquo;t attempt it.
Back in 2022, local influencer Reina Lum who is also an ex-lawyer shared her thoughts on the issue on TikTok and highlighted that the begpacker issue is a massive problem in Malaysia.
<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" style="max-width: 605px; min-width: 325px;" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@reinalum/video/7176641034372304155" data-video-id="7176641034372304155">
<section><a title="@reinalum" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@reinalum?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@reinalum</a> <a title="stitch" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/stitch?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#stitch</a> with @olalala9099 Org Msia ni mmg terlalu baik spi mkn diri 😅 <a title="viralmalaysia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/viralmalaysia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#viralmalaysia</a> <a title="fypmalaysia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fypmalaysia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#fypmalaysia</a> <a title="tiktokmalaysia" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tiktokmalaysia?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#tiktokmalaysia</a> <a title="begpacker" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/begpacker?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#begpacker</a> <a title="whiteprivilege" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/whiteprivilege?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#whiteprivilege</a> <a title="traveltiktok" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/traveltiktok?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#traveltiktok</a> <a title="tourismindustry" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/tourismindustry?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">#tourismindustry</a> <a title="♬ original sound - Reina Lum" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/original-sound-Reina-Lum-7176641070162643739?refer=embed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">♬ original sound - Reina Lum</a></section>
</blockquote>
Unlike other countries the laws there are strict. For those who travel, many would know that you&rsquo;ll need to declare how much you have brought to travel and the immigration officers will deem if you have sufficient funds to travel the country effortlessly.
According to theMalaysian Law, begging in public spaces is considered a crime. According to Section 27(C) of the Minor Offences Act 1955, anyone found begging in a public place when he or she is capable of earning a living can be fined up to RM100 or imprisoned.
Here&rsquo;s some of the comments of netizens about the whole begpacker situation:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Ni immigration kena buat kerja. Deport je balik negara dia. Kos ditanggung embassy.
&mdash; Azli Azimi (@azliazimi) <a href="https://twitter.com/azliazimi/status/1620616751334690817?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Tiap2 minggu ku busking di Mcd selalu jak dua palui ni ada . Kimbet aku penat2 cari duit ni dua orang boleh travel jauh2 . Aku mau cuti pun duduk rumah jak
&mdash; juanmalia&otilde; (@sedeksegaraga) <a href="https://twitter.com/sedeksegaraga/status/1620638101222858753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Immigration cause they cannot work with tourists visa&hellip; also kena ada insurance incase of emergency like being robbed or something&hellip; takkan masuk Negara takde backup pun mcm credit card or something I have seen these kind of tourists depa take our ehsan and go to next holiday je
&mdash; Thayanand (@thaya79) <a href="https://twitter.com/thaya79/status/1620665735751307264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 1, 2023</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
I see them everyday when I go lunch. Pakai iPhone 12 Pro Max tuuuu 👀
&mdash; Adam J. (@ad4mjohnston) <a href="https://twitter.com/ad4mjohnston/status/1620408865077743617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none">
Lawakkan. Nak masuk negara depa kena check visa apa semua, ada some country nak tgk bank statement la, background check la. Depa mai negara kita senang2 begpacking.
&mdash; Fiona 🏴 (@Shades_Salvator) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shades_Salvator/status/1621066126498353152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 2, 2023</a></blockquote>

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Now comes the question, what are our authorities doing to overcome this situation? The streets where the begpackers are &ldquo;camping out&rdquo; are littered with police officers&hellip;
If you ever face a situation where you&rsquo;ve run out of money in another country, it is advised to head to the nearest embassy and they will help sort out the issue and you&rsquo;ll be on your way home in no time. 
What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.
&nbsp;
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media, Michellelanious &amp; various cross-references for context.
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Aside from inflation, looks like the country has another issue to solve.

a8fbc9fad0fc994d4e8f1f622a2eb95f010e25465584c40fb5deed39cdced502

Malaysians Furious At ‘Begpackers’ Who Take Advantage Of Our Kindness

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Scentify

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Oatside

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Rohto

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Malaysians Furious At ‘Begpackers’ Who Take Advantage Of Our Kindness

Aside from inflation, looks like the country has another issue to solve.

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