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BUKIT MERTAJAM – After being criticised by many netizens over the purchase of a motorcycle for a Foodpanda rider, Bukit Mertajam MP Steven Sim Chee Keong introduced the recipient of the aid in a special press conference here today.
Foodpanda rider Anas Hazmi Ahmad, 22, when met by the media said he was very angry and saddened by those who disputed the charity work done by Sim.
Anas – who is also a student at Ungku Omar Polytechnic in Ipoh, Perak – said he asked Sim not to reveal his personal details to anyone because he felt uncomfortable being known to the public.
“I received help from Steven in the form of a Honda Dash 125 motorcycle that was registered under my name.
“I also asked Steven to keep my name secret – and for that, I thank him for being willing to be attacked and accused because of my request,” he said at a press conference at the Bukit Mertajam MP Service Centre here today.
Anas said he was shocked when Sim’s efforts to help him went viral on social media and that some people offered a reward of RM2,000 just to prove his existence.
“I am not a criminal, why are you willing to hunt me down and offer RM2,000?
“I beg you to stop slandering and harassing Steven, me and my family,” said the fourth child out of 10 siblings.
Meanwhile, Sim said that although he refused at first to entertain netizens’ criticism, he was angry when he found out about the reward made to “hunt” Anas down.
Sim also explained that the purchase of the motorcycle was done using his own money, along with another donor who declined to reveal his identity.
“To be honest, as I told you, I don’t know anything about motorcycles. I only paid RM4,500 using my own pocket money and was assisted by another donor.
“I don’t know the actual price of the motorcycle – but what is more important, I wanted to help Anas who is doing part-time work as well as industrial training in Bukit Mertajam,” he said.
Earlier, a senior lecturer from Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) Kamarul Zaman Yusoff offered a sum of RM2,000 to anyone who could provide him with information about a Food Panda rider assisted by Steven.
Kamarul in his Facebook post said a consolation prize will be given to anyone who is able to provide information such as a telephone number, residential address, or workplace address of the Food Panda rider who hails from Tanah Merah, Kelantan.
Last week, Sim was reported to be taking legal action against Kamarul for allegedly making allegations and linking religious issues to the charity work he did. – The Vibes, April 28, 2021
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