KOTA BARU: Poverty and not having anyone to depend on forced an 80-year-old blind woman to travel from one district to another to beg money from the public.
The Person with Disability (PwD) who is from Bachok, has been a beggar over the past few years.
Accompanying the woman who only wanted to be known as Fatimah, is a 10-year-old boy whom she claimed was a relative.
Fatimah said the two of them have been travelling from Bachok to Kota Baru especially during weekends.
"Life is difficult for me nowadays after being a widow when both my husband and only son passed away years ago.
"I have no one to rely on and as l do not want to burden others, l decided to become a beggar.
"I am willing to rent a taxi from Bachok to Kota Baru to seek donations from the public," she said.
Fatimah said she had to seek assistance from the boy to accompany her here.
"I realise that it is not nice for me to become a beggar at this age but l have no choice. I am willing to face the risk of being arrested by the authorities," she said.
Fatimah was among 13 beggars nabbed by the Kelantan authorities in a special operation here yesterday.