SUNGAI PETANI: A jobless man has sought sympathy from the public by bringing along his wife and two children to seek donations near banks and restaurants in order to buy drugs.
The 24-year-old man has gained the public's sympathy by claiming that his children suffer from various illnesses and requesting assistance for treatment.
Chief of operations of Murthada Dakwah Centre (Madadcare), Muhammad Ridzuan Osman, said the man has been receiving monthly food aid from the organisation since last year.
He added that his team also assisted the family in renting a temporary house for them to live in yesterday.
"The couple has two children aged one year and eight months and another child aged nine months. Just yesterday, we helped the family to get a house for temporary shelter, but the house has already become a port for drugs.
"We were shocked after the landlord informed us when he (the landlord) went to the house to check on the children," said Muhammad Ridzuan.
He added that a police report had been lodged before the man's arrest by police at Kampung Binjul Dalam Tawar, Baling, yesterday evening.
The couple's children have also been handed over to the wife's family in Kuala Ketil, Baling, he said.
"The man also admitted that the proceeds gained from alms daily were used to buy drugs."
Previously, Madadcare assisted the family after they were reported to have slept in a car in front of a bank in Sungai Petani for a week as they had no place to stay after allegedly being ousted by a relative.
However, through a Facebook post by Sungai Petani locals, a sharing from the owner of the rented house claimed that the couple was never ousted from the house even though they did not pay rent.
"This is what he repaid, I have never chased him out (of the house) even though he did not pay the rent…," said the owner.
Also shared was the poor condition of the house, along with equipment believed to be used for drugs.
Meanwhile, Baling district police chief Superintendent Shamsudin Mamat confirmed the arrest of the man.
The wife, said Shamsudin, was released after being questioned.
He added that upon inspection, the police also found a transparent plastic package containing suspected heroin weighing 7.31 grammes held in the left hand of the man.
"Upon investigation, the suspect also admitted that the seized items belonged to him.
"The case is being investigated under Section 39A(2) and Section 15(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952."
