Pranked homeless man has no ill will towards influencers

PETALING JAYA: The homeless man who was given leftover chicken bones by three influencers bears no ill will towards the trio. Instead, he said was grateful for any donated food.

The 47-year-old, known only as Mohammad Danish, gave an interview to China Press on Wednesday as he was sitting outside the Merlin Tower in Johor Baru.

According to Danish, he was born in Perak but grew up in Johor.

He became homeless last year and is currently living outside the Merlin Tower building on Jalan Meldrum.

Danish recalled taking a nap before being awoken by five men, two of whom were cameramen.

"At that time, I did not understand their intentions. I thought they were just giving me food.

"I opened the wrapped package and could see chicken rice. But it was mixed with a lot of chicken bones."

He said after the prank, the men came and apologised to him.

Danish added that police have taken his statement regarding the matter.

It was reported that the prank was then uploaded online by the perpetrators and soon went viral.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission described the video as "extremely offensive" and said the trio have had their statements recorded at the Iskandar Puteri police headquarters in Johor.

Meanwhile in Seremban, the three influencers have been released on police bail.

Seremban OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Hatta Che Din said the three, aged 19, 18 and 14, were brought over from Johor Baru on Tuesday to be remanded.

"They were released after their statements were recorded.

"Although the three are from Johor Baru, a report related to the incident was made here," he told reporters yesterday.

ACP Mohamad Hatta said the teenagers were being probed under Section 504 of the Penal Code, Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988.

In the clip, the trio were first seen eating at a fast food restaurant and then placing chicken bones in a pack of rice.

They then gave it to a homeless man who was sleeping on the sidewalk.

The man appeared shocked after opening the packet but responded with a simple gesture of thanks.

Following backlash from netizens, the teens issued an apology.

They claimed that the man had been informed about the filming beforehand and had consented to it.

They also claimed that they had given him a full meal of chicken with rice earlier.