Taking charity for granted

Five restaurants raided for having illegal donation boxes

I don’t know how much was in the boxes, but based on my observation, it is never less than rM500. restaurant worker

SOME irresponsible parties are cashing in on the charitable spirit during Ramadan by placing donation boxes at eateries, Harian Metro reported.

The tabloid investigated several restaurants around Jalan Masjid India and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman in Kuala Lumpur and found that the boxes placed at the cashiers did not have permits from the authorities.

A sticker on the boxes claimed that the donations were for orphanages, mosque building funds and religious schools.

A restaurant worker claimed that his employer would receive his “share” of the donations, ranging between RM1,000 and RM2,000, by allowing these unscrupulous people to place their boxes at the shop.

“The share depends on the amount collected. If they get more, then more money would go to the restaurant owner,” he said.

The worker added that on normal days, the donation box would take a month to fill up.

“But during Ramadan, four boxes will be filled in a week. When the boxes are full, we will contact the people concerned to come and they will give us some money.

“I don’t know how much was in the boxes, but based on my observation, it is never less than RM500,” he said.

The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) raided five restaurants around the city centre and seized 19 boxes believed to be used to collect donations without permission.

Jawi chief enforcement officer Wan Jaafar Wan Ahmad said placing donation boxes at eateries without a proper permit was illegal.

“This syndicate collects money using orphans and underage children to gain sympathy,” he said.

> Harian Metro also reported that popular actress Rozita Che Wan’s Raya plans were dampened as her husband, actor Zain Saidin, was in hospital.

Zain, 31, was admitted last Friday after he complained of knee pain from playing futsal a few days before Ramadan.

He needed surgery as his left knee ligament was torn.