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[Editor's note on Feb. 25, 11:45am: A previous version of the article headline stated that the elderly woman sold tissue paper. The woman does not sell tissue paper, but instead asks for money from passers-by. The headline has been amended to reflect this.]

The presence of a large number of tissue peddlers in Bedok central has caught the attention of members of the public.

A post appeared on the Xiaohongshu platform on Feb. 19 highlighting the phenomenon, as the hawking activity is becoming difficult to miss.

Local Chinese media 8world News popped by one morning to suss things out, to find out more about the backgrounds of the tissue sellers.

Elderly persons and younger man peddling wares

According to 8world News, the reporter showed up at the Bedok MRT station area at 8am on Monday, Feb. 20 and found three persons peddling goods.

They included one man in his 60s, who is an amputee, a woman with grey hair, and a younger man, who had set up shop on the ground.

Five or six elderly women are frequently seen in the area on any given day, it was reported, with the number of tissue peddlers increasing on weekends.

Members of the public were seen giving the tissue sellers money.

One member of the public told the reporter she gave money out of pity.

Elderly woman appeared at noon

Around noon time, an elderly woman in a blue top and black trousers appeared outside the hawker centre area carrying a plastic bag, the 8world News reporter observed.

The elderly woman, who has a severe hunchback, was seen with her hands touching her knees while walking.

It was observed that many members of the public who walked past her will give her some money.

However, some members of the public told the reporter that the elderly woman has a son and a daughter, as well as a domestic helper at home.

The sources also claimed that the elderly woman can pocket anywhere between S$200 and S$300 a day by standing on the street hawking from 10am to 7pm.

But the presence of the elderly woman seeking assistance and calling for aid was convincing.

One woman who gave money to the elderly woman told the reporter: "She asked me if I could give her money. I saw that she is a poor old person, so I decided to give her money."

"But I didn't have much money, otherwise I wanted to give her S$50. Regardless of whether grandma told the truth or not, I will still help her, because if what she said is true, I can still help her."

Elderly woman questioned

When the reporter questioned the elderly woman about her living conditions and if she needed help, she said: "Can you give me the money? I am in my 80s and live alone."

When the reporter continued to ask questions, the elderly woman refused to answer anymore.

It is understood that none of the interviewees has applied for assistance from the relevant authorities, 8world News reported.

No choice but to do this

It was also reported that the young man who was selling tissue was a 32-year-old man with low IQ.

His father, when interviewed at the scene, said his son cannot find any other job other than sell tissue in public because of his condition.

The father claimed his son does not earn much and it was preferable for him to spend time peddling goods in public, especially considering he was not a nuisance to the public.

The Ministry of Social and Family Development has programmes for those who need aid, including the ComCare Long-Term Assistance and the ComCare Short-To-Medium-Term Assistance.

Top photo via 8world News