KUALA LUMPUR: Comedian Harith Iskander lent a helping hand to a sick and homeless old man in Kajang last Sunday, but sadly he died in hospital the following day.
Harith, who shared the sad news on Twitter today, said that the unidentified senior citizen breathed his last in Serdang Hospital hours after being admitted.
Deeply saddened, the comedian regretted that he found out about the homeless man's condition "too late".
"The homeless, unidentified uncle whom I found at a shop house in Kajang has passed away. I'm so sorry I got to you too late, sir. Rest in peace," tweeted Harith.
Harith said that he learnt about the homeless man from friends on Sunday.
The senior citizen was undernourished and suffered from a leg injury sustained from a fall into a nearby monsoon drain.
"He was in great pain and his identity card was stolen. Worse, he could not remember his own name," said Harith, who tried to admit the man to a nearby hospital.
"Unfortunately, the hospital did not want him as he was neither a Covid-19 patient nor an accident victim."
As it was already late, Harith bought some food for the old man and returned to the shophouse the following morning to take him to another hospital.
"I learnt that he had been living outside the shophouse for a few months. Thank goodness I got an ambulance and he was warded at Serdang Hospital."
Netizens were deeply moved by the homeless man's plight, and commended Harith for doing his best to help him.
"RIP uncle. Your pain and suffering are over. God bless you Harith, you're truly a kind soul," said Syed.
"Thank you Harith, for going all out to help this poor man. At least he felt cared for in his last moments," said Jason.
Badrol said: "May his soul rest in peace. You did your best Harith. I'm sure that in his final hours, he felt comforted to know that Malaysians still cared for him."