A Malaysian Senior Citizen Still Climbs , Plucks Coconuts At 69 To Support Family

BALING (Kedah, Malaysia) June 1 (Bernama) -- At 69 years old, Saad Bahadun, is still climbing and plucking fruits from coconut trees as he had been doing for almost 40 years, for a living. Mounting his old bicycle, the senior citizen from the Carok Semeliang village, in Weng, here here would cycle 25 kilometres from his residence looking for coconut trees and asking the owners whether they required his services to pluck the fruits. Saad can climb at least 10 coconut trees in a day and earns four out of every 10 fruits he had plucked, which he would then sell to the cocount vendor for RM1.50 each (about US40 cents). "I sustained in the job as it is the only work I am really capable of. Many people advised me to look for other jobs as I am already old. I don't have a choice as it is my source of income for the family," he told Malaysian national news agency Bernama. Along the way, he had had some experiences to remember, such as being attacked by a swarm of bees which had made its home on a coconut tree. "I also hoisted a Jalur Gemilang (the Malaysian flag) on top of a coconut tree in conjunction with Malaysia's 52th Independence Day," he recounted with pride. With five children aged between 20 and three years to support, Saad who merely earns around RM20 (US$5) per day now is feeling anxious about the run-down walls and leaking roof of his house. He hoped that the relevant departments could provide him with aid. -- BERNAMA