Behind The Mascot A Day In The Life Of Kl S Frogman

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Whether in pink or green, Frogman is a beloved presence at Sogo KL. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)KUALA LUMPUR: Mascots have a magical ability to instantly uplift moods, whether in adults or children. But have you ever wondered about the person inside the costume?
If you’ve strolled around Sogo KL, chances are you’ve encountered an adorable frog mascot – sometimes pink, sometimes green – roaming around the entrance. Behind the cheerful exterior of this cheeky character belies a story of struggle and hard work.
Salman Abdullah, 23, is Sogo’s famed frogman, and he recently welcomed FMT Lifestyle into his Chow Kit home.
The second of three children, Salman said his commitment to his full-time mascot job is driven by his wish to support his family, particularly his disabled sister.
 
“I do this for my sister, to help my family buy diapers and milk for her. Every day, whatever I earn is used to buy things for her,” he shared.
Salman dedicates the bulk of his earnings to support his 24-year-old sister, who faces health issues. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)Salman’s 24-year-old sister has a damaged spinal cord, a hole in the heart, and cataracts. She is also deaf. As a result, she relies heavily on the financial support of her family.
Every day, Salman prepares for work by packing his costume and equipment onto a trolley. After assisting his sister into her wheelchair bed, the family sets out on foot from their home, braving the weather and road conditions, to reach Sogo by 10am. It takes them 20 minutes.
“In this area, flooding is common, and there have been times when I’ve walked to Sogo with water up to my knees,” he said.
Once Salman dons the costume, he fully immerses himself in the frog character, donation box in hand.
Asked about the challenges of the job, Salman replied: “It’s normal for me now.” Yet, this job is far from “normal” – he works a 12-hour day in blazing heat or pouring rain. He also never sits down for fear the costume will deflate.
“I like interacting with kids the most,” he revealed. In fact, he is often spotted giving high fives or friendly hugs, and taking selfies with thrilled shoppers.
Every day, the family endures a long walk from their home in Chow Kit to Sogo. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)“The frog character is special because while it is cute, it can also freak some people out, especially women. So, it’s fun to go up close to them and scare them,” he added cheekily.
Salman, who first donned the frog costume in May last year, is an old hand at being a mascot. When he stopped school in Standard 2, he worked as Mickey Mouse. He was only 10 at the time, and accompanied his father Johari Mad Salleh, a busker.
Speaking about his son, Johari told FMT Lifestyle: “Salman wants to help our family. His mum doesn’t have enough money, and even with busking, sometimes people pay attention, sometimes they just keep walking.”
Johor-born Johari relocated to the city several years ago when a leg injury due to an accident made it difficult for him to find employment. “My friends here suggested I come to KL, and I started performing at weddings, eventually becoming a busker. Today, my youngest son sings while I play the guitar at Sogo.”
Beaming with pride, the 53-year-old added: “The Frogman always attracts more attention than my own busking performances!”
Johari Mad Salleh, Salman’s father is a busker at Sogo KL. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)Speaking about his earnings as a frogman, Salman said: “I earn between RM30 and RM40 a day. But when it rains, I might only get RM15.” Yet, the young man’s work has enabled him to purchase a wheelchair bed for his sister.
Tearing up, Johari confided: “We can only pray to God for help, to extend my daughter’s life for as long as possible.”
Despite the family’s challenges, this father is nothing but grateful. “Even if we think we have a difficult life, there’s always someone out there who has it worse.
“My hope is that people don’t look down on street performers. Because all we want is to earn an honest living. If you can, help. If you can’t, just walk away.”
Salman aka Frogman is a daily source of joy for many shoppers at Sogo. (Moganraj Villavan @ FMT Lifestyle)So the next time you’re at Sogo, don’t forget to snap a picture with this friendly amphibian. It will help brighten Salman’s day.
Salman can be contacted at 011-1424 6815. - FMT

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