A task for a ‘busybody’

HE’S no politician, neither does he work for the utility firms. Nevertheless, odd job worker Lim Thiam Guan tries hard to be the community’s “eyes and ears” and to help set things right when streetlights on Penang island are faulty or roads are uneven.  

To get problems rectified, Lim who admits to being a “kaypoh” (busybody), would hassle the relevant authorities. When that fails, he would call up complaints bureaus and newspaper offices to voice his grouses.  

“I go to Komtar quite often to talk to the Penang Municipal Coun-cil’s engineering department officer about the problems.  

“I will report on missing lights from lampposts, potholes on roads that endanger motorcyclists and other utility problems that need fixing,” said Lim who has become a familiar voice to The Star operators, calling up several times a week.  

Lim cuts a familiar figure in the inner city streets, riding his rickety red bicycle around town. The hot sun does not deter the 50-year-old bachelor who is well versed with short cuts around town, often cyc-ling through back alleys between squatter houses and pre-war buildings.  

Good Samaritan:Lim checking a street lamp at the River Road low-cost flats.

“I don’t have a schedule to do my rounds. I just go around when I’m not working,” he explained. 

Lim, who lives with his 82-year-old mother, said he was only educated up to Standard Three. He started working at his brother in-law’s kuih shop at Sia Boay (the old Prangin Road market) when he was 15. Later, he became an odd-job labourer. 

He can often be spotted check- ing out problems in Jelutong, along Chulia Street and the Esplanade and claimed he had been on the job for nearly 20 years. 

“My elder sister and mother don’t like me doing this. They would scold me and say I’m kaypoh.  

“I don’t do this for money. I be-lieve God will bless me for doing this. And I just like helping other people,” he explained.  

But being a Good Samaritan has its job hazards.  

Just a week before Chinese New Year, a motorcycle knocked Lim down after he finished his rounds at Fort Cornwallis.  

“It was around 8pm and the rider tried to cut across my path. Both of us fell and I suffered some minor scratches. He said he had no money to give me for the accident and I told him it was okay.”  

Lim is committed to running his one-man complaints bureau and has no intention of retiring from his ‘job’.  

“So long as I still can cycle and move around, I’ll continue to keep a look out for problems to fix,” he added.