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A young man was filmed casually reaching into an elderly busker's tip jar along Orchard Road, sparking public outrage.
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While the young man did help himself to the money in the tip jar, it turns out that it was done with permission, according to the busker.
Took S$2
The 78-year-old busker, Chua Kim Seng, explained what happened to Chinese media Shin Min Daily News.
Chua, who is more endearingly known as Uncle Chua, said the young man asked him for money to buy food during the Mar. 7 incident.
The young man said he needed S$2, before he reached into Chua's tip jar, took the money, and walked away, as seen in the now-infamous video of the incident.
Chua explained that he chose not to stop the young man as it was just a small amount of money.
Chose to not make police report
An elderly female passerby witnessed the interaction between Chua and the young man.
She could be seen in the video speaking with Chua, before calling after the young man and chasing him.
It is unclear if she managed to catch up to the young man.
Chua told Shin Min that he explained to the passerby what happened and reassured her that it was not a big deal at that time.
The passerby told Chua to lodge a police report, but he chose not to do so.
Not the first time
Chua said this was not the first time he has met the young man.
Known as Singapore's OG (internet speak for "original") dancing man, Chua has been performing at several locations in Singapore for the past nine years.
This includes areas in town such as Ngee Ann City and Mandarin Gallery, where his interaction with the young man was shot, as well as in neighbourhoods such as Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh, and Tampines.
Chua described the young man to be in his 20s and recounted that their interactions have been in Mandarin, where the young man usually asks Chua for S$2 to buy food.
He said he does not mind giving money to the young man.
Watch Uncle Chua
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