The Drunken Beggar of SEAPARK

Able-bodied. Something in the early forties. Only reason he is begging- laziness.

SEAPARK has its share of unfortunate people asking money from the public. We have one ''uncle'' with a worn-out suitcase which he carries in one hand and a trolley bag which he drags in another. He works in a bank formerly. He usually sleeps on the pavement outside a 24-hour clinic, around the Public Bank area. And he croons songs of the sixties and Elvis numbers. When he goes around begging, he will put a finger out and say "One dollar".

Then we have this guy who once masqueraded as a monk. When the news of bogus monks came out in the Malays Mail, he ''defrocked'' his monk gear and now is in layman's attire. Another lazy guy and keeps on pointing a finger at you to give him a ringgit.

We have another chap. He doesnt really begs. He sold second hand VCDs and DVDs at one time, then tried his hand selling lottery tickets. He is now selling keropok. At least he is earning his keep.

Let us get back to this lazy able-bodied beggar. He sets himself besides a newspaper-cum-Chinese medicine shop. There is much human traffic. Stinking of cheap liquor and smelly from not bathing for days, he has a cap besides him and begs from every one that passes him by. Once he has collected enough he will buy the cheap rice wine from the medicine shop.

He was missing for quite sometime. Think the Social Welfare chaps must have institutionalised him but looks like he got out.

Let us see how long he will last on the five-foot walk this time around.

Heartsong