KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 (Sin Chew Daily) — Former para swimming champion Koh Lee Peng, who has caught the attention on social media for selling hand-made tissue paper pouches at Bukit Bintang area, wants her life to return to normalcy.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker, who visited Koh, also urged all parties to respect her choice of self-sufficiency through selling small items to earn a living.

In a press conference, Ti said he respected Koh’s decision to be self-sufficient.

He also urged the social media not to ignore Koh’s effort of becoming a petty trader and see her as a beggar instead.

Koh and her business partner came to Kuala Lumpur to sell pouches for tissue paper at Bukit Bintang area.

She has been with her business partner Su Rui Qi, her childhood friend, for the past three years. They will return to Penang on January 21 to continue with their business.

Ti said Koh is proud of herself to be self-sufficient as a petty trader.

During an interview, Koh said it was not easy to sell on the street as her business might be affected by the weather.

After missing the opportunity to become a coach, Koh said she did not want to look back.

If someone was willing to help her, she said it should not be lip service.

Ti presented Koh and her business partner a Chinese New Year hamper and an ang pao. He also bought some tissue boxes from her to show his support.

Koh represented Malaysia in the Asean Para Games between 2001 and 2005 and brought home seven gold and three silver medals.

In 2016, she was the talk of her home state Penang after being crowned the state’s Female Paralympic Athlete of the Year.