I am gonna get into trouble if I never change my bad temper.

In Malaysia, have you ever see old man or maimed man laying by the road, begging for money? They bow to you or nod their heads when you give them money or buy them food. 

But do you ever willing to offer your favor? Give them some coins, notes, or better still food. Had you? 

These homeless men are from different races. Just like we have rich people in different races, never ever happened that one particular race monopoly Malaysia's economics ( some of us do hope this happen but for so many reasons it never.) , so does the same go to poor people, they are from different races too. 

What do you do when you are walking by the road and they come into your sight, the homeless man. 

I had never think of this until I met one. And when I never think of this, it's an issue non of my business but when I do, I got a deep thought. 

I went to Kinta City for a walk and on the way back we were hungry and so we looking for food. 

We went to the 24 hours KFC. Brother was parking the car so I stood outside the entrance and waited for him. 

I saw an old man ( till that time I had no idea what's his story). I saw he was counting coins which he taken out from a paper cup with Pepsi logo. Beside him was a small backpack bag with blue cartoon. It's those kind of bag which kids would normally use. And there was a KFC take away plastic bag with him. That's all I saw that moment. 

So what I could deduced from all I saw: 

He was begging for money and of course a Good Samaritan (or himself) bought him a KFC dinner set. Until when I saw one Indian lady drove her car away and greet the uncle good bye. I knew she is the Good Samaritan who bought him the dinner set. 

In fact I wasn't staring at him. I was looking at my bro who was parking the car. There was one pair of Malay couple who were standing next to their motor. Out of sudden the girl talked to me. 

"Itu bangsa you, you tak pergi tolong ke?"

"Huh?" ( I was seriously not in the situation. )

"Itu bangsa you, you tak pergi tolong?"

"Sekarang bukan 1 Malaysia? Masih ada kira bangsa Ke?"

"Ahh. Satu Malaysia la tuhh. Hah. Tapi itu kaum you." 

"Satu Malaysia masih ada kira kaum a?"

I ended the scene with me saying the sentence, turned and walked into KFC. 

Some clarification here. Our chatting scene was normal without any smell of frustration and fury. She smiled to me and started the conversation. I replied with smiles too. But sometimes good sentence doesn't necessary come out from a smiling face. 

I stepped into KFC and my heart pumped like it's going to pop out in any moment. 

I AM AFRAID! 

What I did just now ain't right at all. What if they thought that I am rude and they called their KAKI and hit us? Even if they not dare to hurt us they might put the wrath on our car. And it's so late that anything could happen! 

I was trembling. 

But now I am at home and thanks God. Nothing happened. 

So I start contemplating. 

About homeless people. 

Frankly I feel so sad seeing them. 

Why we got a comfort house to stay and they need to look for a shelter along the corridor. 

Why do we buy branded bags when they use unwanted bag most probably picking up from a garbage site. 

Why do we go to high class restaurant which you pay a lot and what's on your plate can't even feed your cat, when they can only have a simple KFC dinner set which even DONATED by pedestrian. 

Why?

Whenever I think of all these Whys, my heart ache. 

They are homeless, most of them are old, thin, most probably weak and sick.  Could you imagine how chilling it's sleeping along the street at night? 

I feel so helpless because I can't help them. 

Maybe I should buy him another KFC dinner set. But what for? He had already got one and even if I buy him one more set, it was just pleasing the people around me and even myself. Because I showed my generosity and kindness by buying meal for the homeless. But do that really help? He already eaten and he was full and why do he need food again? What if he keep it till tomorrow, he would eat it and stomachache and who's going to send him to hospital? He was outside the 24 hours KFC. There are a lot of good Samaritans in Ipoh and I could quite confirm that he wouldn't be starving. 

How about money? How much I should give? And I think that giving people money when they didn't do work is actually insulting them. Honestly that's how I feel if I am going to give money to people when they are not doing anything. If you always have tauge chicken in Lou Wong, you could see an old Chinese uncle selling Premier tissue paper around the shops. I would always buy from him and pay RM5. That's much more than three packs of tissue paper worth, but I am willing to pay and I am happy doing that. Because that's not an insultion. I paid because he did some work and he totally worth getting that paid. 

But the same doesn't happen to that homeless man outside the 24 hours KFC! 

I would rather buy him food instead of paying him. 

But in the same time I started thinking why would he need to be homeless in this old age. 

Like typical Chinese people I believe that that's a reason behind everything happen to you. 

In Chinese we said 

因果报因。

Sometimes in other language it's almost similar to karma. 

What if the homeless man is a drug addict? So his family abandoned him and he beg for money so that he could buy drugs? 

What if he's a serious gambler? He never manage his money that's why when he got older he need to loiter along the street at night. 

There are so many WHAT IFs in my mind. 

Most of them are of that he didn't do well in his young age that's why he needed to be like this. 

I don't know but this really haunt me. That's why I still willing to write this long despite my Lenople being sent to Batu Gajah for repair. 

What I can do to change their lives? 

Or what else I can do to PREVENT youngster today to be the homeless man tomorrow?

Can a temporary teacher for 8 weeks educate the students to work hard, no matter it's a prestige job or a low standard job. 

As long as your earn money in a legal way, you will live your life. 

And you will have a good life though you might not be as rich as Bill Gates. You wouldn't have Prada, Burberry, Audi, Banglo and all those luxurious stuff. 

But you will always be contended and happy. Happy because you can appreciate what you had and be grateful. 

At last. 

I sincerely wanted to apologize to that cute couple. Both of you are cute. I am sorry to be rude. Please don't let me ruined your date. Stay healthy and be happy. 

And I know under Satu Malaysia. We are all Malaysians. 

Happy Independence Day.