Community

EDITORIAL: BLIND UNCLE HOLDS UP TRAFFIC AND DEMANDS MONEY TO MOVE ASIDE

“𝐈 𝐆𝐎𝐓 𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 𝐁𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐈 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐏 𝐇𝐈𝐌 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐀𝐃”

Believe it or not….I was literally told to bugger off by this blind senior citizen when I stopped my car in the middle of busy SS15 to offer him help.

Spotted this blind man trying to cross the road in the commercial area of SS15. I stopped right in the middle of the road (blocking traffic behind me) and got down to offer this uncle help as he seemed to be having difficulty trying to cross the road.

When I went up to him to offer assistance, he asked me for RM10 or RM20 as he wanted to “call” a Grab. I told him he would need to hail a ride on his mobile phone (if he has one) first but he insisted I give him cash.

While talking to him I guided him to the side of the road but he turned around and asked me ” Do you smoke?” and I told him No. He then said “If you don’t smoke, you go away!”

I was caught by surprise. This is the first encounter with him and I did notice he was holding a bottle of red wine in his other hand.

I left him by the side of the road since he was so rude and obviously wanted me to give him money instead of helping him catch a ride.

Worried that he might endanger himself or other road users, I called the SS17 police station and a policeman arrived after I had left. The policeman was just as puzzled as I was and he told me the man was rude and claimed he stayed in Seri Kembangan.

I didn’t leave the matter there. I called the Welfare Department head in SS15 and to my surprise, he told me this uncle has been doing this very often around Subang Jaya. He would go around and ask people for money. He apparently stays nearby and would roam the streets but eventually go home on his own.

I guess I have learned something new today having encountered this uncle. But it wont deter me from stopping to help anyone in the future.

TQ to all the motorists behind me who waited patiently while I attempted to help this uncle.

This editorial is not meant to belittle any efforts to help the less fortunate but when something doesn’t smell or sound right, it is best to be on the cautious side. A friend brought to our attention that this report https://says.com/my/news/blind-uncle-caught-harassing-people-into-giving-him-money-by-blocking-traffic?fbclid=IwAR0bJec92tvkKqdqkAqewuxiaMDwlFYU_lF7odZ2reOighUi1uAMvmAhmHU&mibextid=l066kq might be of the same person.

Several Subang Jaya residents also told us they had encountered this elderly man before in SS15 and also Taipan USJ10. At each encounter, he would ask for money usually RM10 or RM20.

Have you encountered this uncle before? Tell us about it.