Saturday, October 16, 2004
My 2 cents on the 5-cent coin debate
I was at TB Plaza having kaya* toast and coffee at one of our famous local coffee chains.A man approached my table, put out his hand and just grunted.Obviously he was asking for money, and in a rude manner.But then again perhaps he was dumb and couldn't speak.
My normal reaction is to ignore such people. After all we have numerous fund raising, flag selling, and charity events for all sorts of good causes throughout the year. However, on impulse I fished out all the loose change in my pocket, which probably came up to two dollars, and handed it over. "Grunt' walked away without a word and and five seconds later U-turned back to my table and returned two five-cent coins. I was flabbergasted! When did beggars become so choosy!
There have been suggestions from the public that five-cent coins be taken out of circulation and I tend to agree as even beggars won't accept them!
*Explanation for my non-asian friends - Kaya is a local jam made from coconut,eggs and sugar and cooked with pandan leaves to give it a fragrant aroma.
NB: An edited version of this was published under the 'INBOX' column of the Sunday Times on 24th October under the heading - 'Beggar was so choosy".
My normal reaction is to ignore such people. After all we have numerous fund raising, flag selling, and charity events for all sorts of good causes throughout the year. However, on impulse I fished out all the loose change in my pocket, which probably came up to two dollars, and handed it over. "Grunt' walked away without a word and and five seconds later U-turned back to my table and returned two five-cent coins. I was flabbergasted! When did beggars become so choosy!
There have been suggestions from the public that five-cent coins be taken out of circulation and I tend to agree as even beggars won't accept them!
*Explanation for my non-asian friends - Kaya is a local jam made from coconut,eggs and sugar and cooked with pandan leaves to give it a fragrant aroma.
NB: An edited version of this was published under the 'INBOX' column of the Sunday Times on 24th October under the heading - 'Beggar was so choosy".
// posted by Speedy @ 5:43 pm 
