Previously, a blind man using his disability to intimidate passersby into giving him money was caught on camera, as he aggressively threatened them.
The video was shared on social media and quickly spread like wildfire as it depicted him standing in the middle of the road and obstructing traffic. He would not move until he had received the right amount of money.
The 63-year-old blind man was identified as Khor Chai Wing, or widely known as ‘Uncle Luke’ admits that he was wrong in doing so. In addition to being blind, Uncle Luke is also suffering from mental illness. According to The Star, they approached him for an interview and he has apologised for his actions.
“I am sorry for four things: number one, for standing in the middle of the road. Number two, I am sorry for being born 100% blind.”
“Number three, I am sorry for being partially deaf and number four, I am sorry for being mentally challenged,” he said.
He admitted that sometimes his bad temper influenced his behaviour, as he had struck some of his customers when they refused to buy his wares, which ranges from magazines, stickers and lottery tickets.
Uncle Luke explained that he never meant to hurt anyone, but just that his temper got the better of him.
“I also assaulted some of them by pulling their shirts for refusing to buy from me. I got angry I couldn’t sell (anything).
“I was angry because the sales were not good at that time,” he said.
When asked about the viral video, Uncle Luke explained that he was aware of his actions and felt remorseful that he acted this way. “That’s my way of doing it. If it’s wrong, then you all have to tell me,” he said.
Uncle Luke also said that he sold his wares around Klang Valley and did it so that he could afford to purchase at least a bag of rice. The police have intervened before, when the public made complaints about his behaviour, but they only gave him a warning and let him off.
The senior citizen does have family members living in Johor and Selangor, but they are rarely in contact so he relies on himself to support his own needs. Isn’t it about time they helped him, though?
Uncle Luke has also been in and out of several mental institutions since the 1970s, but thankfully, he now has a support system in the form of a disabled community known as OKUnetwork. He receives aid and shelter from them.
He promises to change his behaviour and says, “I will try my best not to do this kind of thing again. I will try to control my temper when I am out doing sales.”
If you wish to help him, you can e-mail myokunetwork@gmail.com for more information.
Also read: How an Illiterate Mom Single-Handedly Raised Disabled Son to Get Into Harvard