GEORGE TOWN: Lim Kim Sung may be struggling with life, making ends meet while suffering from filariasis (elephantiasis) on his left leg, but the octogenarian has a heart of gold - sharing the little he has to help the less fortunate.
His kind deeds include handing over some of his meagre savings to a charity organisation for the visually impaired and buying food for underprivileged orphans.
“Sometimes, it’s good to give back. As long as I am able to help the poor, I will.
“In this life, if we can have some food to eat, and be healthy, there is already so much reason to be happy and grateful,” he said.
Kim Sung, 80, is suffering from chronic venous ulcers on his left leg and arthritis in both legs. He lost his ability to stand and walk about four years ago.
A former vegetable seller and a coffee shop helper, Kim Sung has been surviving on his monthly RM300 aid from the Welfare Department.
He also collects and sells recyclable materials from which he is able to earn more than RM100 to make ends meet and pay his house monthly rental of RM220.
Kim Sung has no children and his wife passed away about three years ago.
In November 2013, The Star ran a story on him crossing the busy Jalan Air Itam-Jalan Datuk Keramat junction from his rented house in Jalan Gopeng to the Penang Hospital on his wheelchair for daily dress-ing.
On Friday, Syed Azmi Abhalshi, the man behind the controversial ‘I Want To Touch A Dog’ event, posted on Facebook urging support for Kim Sung, referring to him as ‘Uncle Ah San’.
He wrote that a friend Shirin Aziha Shahidan, who has known Uncle Ah San since she was 10 years old, told him about the elderly man.
“Uncle Ah San used to pedal his cart filled with recyclable boxes. He did it, day in day out, despite the condition of his feet.
“Later part of his life he sold drinks and colouring books at a nearby Pasar Karat. Shirin at that young age used to help the uncle cross the road to his house whenever she could. Uncle Ah San, his wife and Shirin bonded.”
Syed Azmi’s post has since garnered about 3,000 likes and was shared more than 2,900 times. It caught the attention of social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, and she too shared it.
There were some 350 comments, with netizens offering support.
Shirin, 27, said she had received numerous calls with offers to help Uncle Ah San.
“Those who donated were not just Malaysians, but from around the world. Within 24 hours, RM8,000 had poured in. I had this need to help him, especially after his wife passed away. He is now alone.
“I used to give him money whenever I visit him but I want to do more,” she said when contacted.
Shirin, who works as a sales and marketing executive, said the funds collected had been used to purchase a bed with a lifting support with remote control for Uncle Ah San.
“The funds will also be used to pay for a hired private nurse who will change his dressing daily, prepare meals for him, and assist with some chores,” she added.
Penang Hospital Visitors Board chairman Lim Thoon Deong, who visited Kim Sung at his rented house yesterday, said he would help Kim Sung apply for assistance from the Penang MCA Medical Aid Fund.
“I have also arranged for him to have a full medical checkup at the Penang Hospital tomorrow,” he said.
Kim Sung eyes lit up when Shirin’s name was brought up. He remembers her well.
“She has been helping me since she was a little girl. I am very grateful for all the help she has given me,” he said. “She is like a daughter I never had.”
Those who wish to help Kim Sung can call Thoon Deong at 016-4532086. Shirin can also be reached at shirinshahidan@gmail.com.
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