Tissue Seller Kowtows To Customer At Traffic Light Intersection In KL
The customer did not buy from the tissue seller despite the begging.
Subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest stories and updates.
How far would you go to get business?
Sometimes, the more desperate you appear, the less likely people will buy from you.
A viral video on social media showed a tissue seller ‘kowtowing’ (the act of kneeling and touching one’s head to the ground) to a customer.
The customer was stopping at a red light in a Perodua Axia.
The incident, believed to have occurred in Klang Valley, showed the man repeatedly ‘worshipping’ in front of the driver’s side door.
In the 19-second recording, the man appears to prostrate seven times.
Ingat kat luar negara tadi rupanya kat Malaysia . Untuk peringatan tolong la jangan support orang meniaga kat trafic lite ni. Menyusahkan dan membahayakan.
— MALAYSIA MOST VIRALL (@MALAYSIAVIRALL) October 12, 2022
Nak harap kan majlis perbandaran ambik tindakan memang sampai kiamat la tak nampak isu ni. pic.twitter.com/Lxuy5xPrRh
The man then got up and collected several tissue packs placed on the road.
His disappointment was seen in a tired face, exacerbated by the scorching heat.
He then switched his attention to another car to look for customers who might be willing to buy.
To Pity Or Not To Pity
Various reactions emerged among netizens who sympathized with the plight of the tissue seller.
Some said it was a desperate act to survive and it’s better than turning to crime like those robbers or snatch thieves.
Others pointed out that the intention to survive does not justify the means, as the law must be obeyed.
They said doing business in the middle of the road is dangerous even if the traffic light is still red, and urged the authorities to take action.
Furthermore, the drivers will be at fault if there is an accident.
Some said Malaysia is slowly becoming like Indonesia, where many street peddlers sell items ranging from fruits and mineral water.
Causing Harm And Disruption On The Road
While it may sound like honest work, such roadside selling methods are not new.
These roadside traders mushroomed during the Covid-19 pandemic, which left many people struggling to survive.
In the past, the authorities had raided such operations and issued fines.
The most notorious of the bunch are the pickled fruit sellers, who are said to make good money earning between RM3,000 to RM7,000 a month.
In March 2022, authorities discovered that the fruits were kept in unhygienic conditions under the bridges, by the side of drains and near sewage treatment plants.
Jeruk traffic Light
— ZaYeD ZulFikLi (@ZZulfikli) March 28, 2022
Hasil operasi yang dijalakan mendapati makanan yang dijaja iaitu " buah jeruk" disimpan dan disorok di lokasi yang tidak sepatutnya iaitu di dalam longkang dan berhampiran kawasan kumbahan bagi menggelak tindakan diambil oleh pihak penguatkuasa. pic.twitter.com/u5L7xjiTnP
Such illegal selling methods have also been proven dangerous, with the sellers being hit by vehicles.
Orang yg jual buah dekat Traffic Light Petronas Kota Tinggi kena langgar.
— Thawab Kassim (@thawab_johor) February 6, 2021
Actually memang bahaya modus operandi perniagaan buah dekat traffic light ni.
Harap majikan kena lebih peka dgn keselamatan pekerja.
Sumber : Group Whatsapp Kota Tinggi . pic.twitter.com/VAQjrc4dN6
Deputy Director I, Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT), Datuk Mohd Nadzri Hussain, had said that buying and selling business at the intersection or any road is an offence.
Offenders are punishable under Rule 10A (1) of the Road Transport Rules 1959 (LN 166/59).
Individuals involved in buying and selling can be fined not more than RM2,000 or imprisoned for up to six months if convicted.
READ MORE: Selling Fruit Car-To-Car At Traffic Lights Is Illegal And If You Buy, You Could Get Fined, Too
Share your thoughts with us via TRP’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
