Elderly homeless man celebrates Aidilfitri under the bridge for three decades

KUALA LUMPUR - After nearly three decades of celebrating Aidilfitri under the bridge, an elderly homeless man said he was used to the life of poverty and deprivation.

The man who only wanted to be known as Mat Isa, 79, who hailed from Kedah said Aidilfitri was no longer a special celebration for him.

He said on the first day of Syawal every year, he only performed Aidilfitri prayers at a nearby mosque and then he would sit alone on a bench under the bridge.

"Even though I have relatives at my hometown, they have their own families and I do not want to bother them. I have never been married and I am comfortable like this.

"When it is the festive season, the city area is quiet because people return to their hometowns, so it would only be us (homeless) here.

"For 30 years, I have lived and celebrated Aidilfitri under the bridge and it is not a problem for me," he said.

Mat Isa revealed that he has been suffering from a hunched back problem for the past five years, to the extent that he has to walk by pushing a trolley.

He said his job as a sweeper at the nearby mosque had led to such a significant deterioration in his physical condition.

Despite his back problem, he said he did not experience any breathing problems as he drank goat's milk.

Mat Isa, who once worked with a local rice production company in the 1990s said despite his health condition and the difficulties in his life, he never forgot his responsibility as a servant of Allah SWT.

"I always remember this advice, as long you are a human, whether poor or rich, we should never be arrogant, especially towards Allah and do not harm others," he said.