By Benson Ang

HE DOES not want to die sitting at home, doing nothing.

So he has been selling snacks at the Woodlands MRT station for the past month, even though he doesn't need the money.

Mok Jia Yong, 19, has had muscular dystrophy since he was 3.

But he refuses to give in to the terminal illness without a fight.

His friend, Kelvin Yong, 20, who also has the same illness, feels the same.

Despite finishing their N levels four years ago, they have been unable to work because of their condition.

But they didn't want to wallow in self-pity and wanted to do something meaningful with what's left of their lives.

Jia Yong said: "I don't want to stay at home and wait for death.

"I know I'll never be the boss of a business or a company because of my condition.

"But when I'm selling sweets, I can feel like the boss of a shop. I can feel I am doing something useful."

He has been selling packets of snacks - Oreos, Mentos, sour plums - for $1 each.

His mother, 52, who wanted to be known only as Madam Mok, buys the snacks in bulk from a provision shop and re-packs them.

Above his motorised wheelchair is a cardboard sign made by his sister, 21, a university student.

It was Jia Yong who came up with the idea of selling snacks, after watching people selling tissue paper in public places.

He decided to try it out, but thought passers-by would be more willing to buy snacks.

He has been doing this about twice a week for about two hours each time. He makes about $20 a day.

During the hour The New Paper observed him on Monday, he had 20 customers. Some gave him money, but didn't want sweets.

Mr Dennis Lau, 22, said he bought a packet of sour plums because he felt sorry for the young man in a wheelchair.

Jia Yong and Kelvin have known each other since they were classmates in Primary 2. They later attended the same secondary school.

Jia Yong was eager to chat during the interview as there was only his mother to talk to at home during the day.

Despite his condition, he was eager to find a job, but he has been unable to do so.

He was once offered a job as a book-keeper, but was too weak to open the books and turn the pages.

So he spends most of his time at home, watching television, playing computer games, and going on Facebook, which he found "very boring".

"I'm sick of watching re-runs of old drama serials, and tired of playing computer games again and again."

He found it difficult to play the games.

He would get so bored at home that he would sometimes pick fights with his mother.

He said: "If I stayed at home, my spirit would really die and waste away. I'd just be waiting for death.

"Some of my friends (who also have muscular dystrophy) isolated themselves from others. They are no longer in this world."

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