Limping Fruit Seller Wins Hearts But His Struggles Mirror A Larger Crisis

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WHEN life gives you lemons, make lemonades. Easier said than done if fortune is not on your side.
Recently, a poor roadside fruit seller took the limelight on the cyberspace for his limp as he went about trying to get the passing vehicles to buy his products.
Whether it be rain or sunshine, he had to work to make ends meet. But it wasn’t just his hardship that drew attention.
A heartwarming video showed what happens when a good samaritan decided to help out in his endeavour by buying all his products that day.
Not only that, the man even distributed them all for free to the drivers of the vehicles that stopped nearby. Not all heroes wear capes. But will the fruit seller enjoy such fortune everyday? Most likely not. 

The video highlights the very real plight of the B40 community who struggle everyday to survive in a deteriorating economy.
It is more than just a light story to warm the heart, but a wake up call for our leaders and future leaders to do more for the people.
But what defines the B40? According to iProperty in an article dated 2024, the B40 represents the bottom 40% of income earners (about 3.16 mil household), with an income less than RM5,250. 
This category is further subdivided into B1, B2, B3, and B4 where the income drops considerably.
But there is more to the story. According to Bernama, the Malaysian middle class or M40 is now losing ground.
Based on the Household Income and Basic Amenities Survey Report 2020 conducted by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), 20% of households from the M40 group have fallen into the B40 group due to the COVID-19 pandemic fallout.

Lawmakers, economists and academics have earlier suggested that the government consider revamping both B40 and M40 categories, which are currently used as indicators for the low-income or bottom 40% of society, and the middle-income group for the mid-40% of society.
There are many more of the like of the fruit sellers out there, albeit in another shape or form, and certainly, in need of assistance. —  Focus Malaysia

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