Hungry and Searching for Work
A heartbreaking moment in Petaling Jaya showed how desperate life can become for some migrant workers. A man stopped by a home and asked the resident if she had any work for him.
He explained that he hadn’t eaten for two days because his employer had not paid him for his previous job.
The Viral Video
The woman, who later shared the encounter on TikTok under the username @/anyssophiaa, said she did not have any work for him but could not turn him away empty-handed.
She went inside and brought him some food.
“I told him I didn’t have any work at home for him, but I still went inside to get some food to give him,” she said.
Eating Right There on the Ground
Without hesitation, after receiving a meal from the woman, he immediately sat cross-legged on the ground outside her house and began eating the food.
To quench his thirst, he drank water straight from the tap.
“It was heartbreaking to watch. He was clearly so hungry,” she shared.
Social Media Users Express Both Sympathy and Disappointment
The video quickly spread on TikTok, moving viewers who felt sympathy for the worker and anger at the injustice he faced.
One commenter prayed for the woman’s kindness to be rewarded:
“Sis, may your wallet always be filled with purple notes (RM 100 notes), may the traffic lights always be green when you drive, may your family always stay healthy, may Allah always protect you and your family, may your children grow up to be good people, and may your livelihood always be smooth.”
Others pointed out that foreign workers often face poor treatment despite their hard work.
“I work in hardware. I always see migrant workers being treated badly. In reality, they are good to us.”
Some reminded others that the man, too, has a family relying on him.
“Someone’s father, yet also someone’s son.”
Stories of Exploitation and Unpaid Wages
Several shared personal experiences of seeing migrant workers being exploited or left unpaid.
One recalled how their father saw police extort a worker:
“A migrant worker who built my house was extorted by the police. My father saw it happen in front of his eyes. That was the last money he had to bring his pregnant wife to the clinic. He didn’t complain, just quietly kept working. My father gave him money so he could feed his family. He cried.”
Another spoke about workers who were not paid for months.
“The worker who renovated my house did everything neatly, respectfully, and with good manners. My mother prepared food and drinks for them every day. Only on the last day did they tell us their boss hadn’t paid them in three months. They said they were deeply touched because my mother fed them. Otherwise, they had no money at all for food.”
A Reminder of Shared Humanity
Some users reflected on the woman’s kindness, saying the situation was also a test for her.
“It’s not him who is being tested, it’s actually you, sis. May your sustenance always be abundant.”
Others were heartbroken by how desperate the man must have been.
“Poor man… he must have been so hungry.”
In her replies, the woman added more context. She said the man told her he had not eaten for two days.
When others offered to send money to him, she explained that he refused, saying he wanted to work first before receiving any payment.
One user, moved to tears, was sympathizing with the man.
Another summed up the feeling that many shared:
“They are humans too… imagine if we were the ones living in a foreign country.”
Watch the video here:
@anyssophiaa 😮💨😮💨😮💨 #janganmembazir
More from Wake Up Singapore:-
Serving Kindness: Shaheed Alam & TikToker Turn Tennis Match Into S$500 Donation for Migrant Workers
Why Second-Generation Singaporeans Like Shazneen Hasan Champion Migrant Workers’ Rights Today
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