KADIR HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

I had fun working under Datuk Kadir. One day, I observed a foreign beggar at her workplace in Jalan Tun Razak. She was begging at the pedestrian bridge from 9am and I was at a distance watching her every move.
Every now and then, locals were generous enough to drop a few Sen and some a few Ringgit into the bowl in front of her. It was fasting month and Malaysians can be extra generous with their cash.It was way after lunch time and I had been observing the woman for about four hours already.
Under the hot sun and fasting, I was beginning to become sleepy and well....angry. So, I decided to torment the old woman. I came close and started taking pictures.
She was cursing me in a foreign language, but I didn't care. I wanted her to move on. After all, she had collected more than RM100 already. I counted every sen and Ringgit that went into her bowl. The only way I could seek refuge from the hot sun was Ampang Park.
Then she started packing. I followed her from a distance and saw her entering the 4D outlet in Lebuh Ampang. She blew RM30 on a number before buying some kuih. When she boarded a bus to Ampang, I sat behind her.
It was stuffy as it was already 4.30pm. The bus was packed but I did not care. I kept on fasting and following her.
Then she stood up to ring the bell. It was in front of Taman Kosas. As she stepped down, she glared at me. I got down at the same place. She walked into a squatter colony and suddenly there was this boy, about 10, picking up stones, ready to aim at me.
I backed off but the report was on a front-paged of the Malay Mail two days later.
I told Datuk kadir I wanted to pursue the story and needed a long lense to take better pictures.
He wrote a note to the chief photographer for me to have access to all the lenses available.
The photographers were obviously not happy but relented when they saw the note from the GEIC.
The colony was later raided and the woman and her family deported. Several others who had gone begging in town were also picked up. It seems the village was a sanctuary for them. Just a few days before Raya, I told Datuk Kadir I had applied for leave and he said OK.
The rumour circulating around was that Datuk Kadir was to be replaced. But I did not ask him. When I came back from Raya leave, Boon Siew broke the news. I was back in News Desk as Datuk Kadir had left the building.