Socso, the social security organisation, said that Ho had made only 86 contributions to his social security scheme and did not meet the minimum of 94 contributions.

It said Ho’s last contribution was made in October 1997.

“This contribution rate does not qualify him for the invalidity pension scheme, even if he is confirmed to be invalid by the council of doctors,” Socso said.

Even if Ho is confirmed to be invalid, he would be entitled to receive only a one-off invalidity aid, equivalent to the total contributions made by Ho and his employer under the invalidity scheme.

Socso added Ho’s case was brought to the council of doctors in August 2000, as a matter of courtesy but he was not found to have any diseases that warranted him to be held as an invalid.

The decision was upheld on appeal, Socso said.

Socso also dismissed Ho’s claims that he applied for assistance four times. Socso said Ho had applied only twice for the invalidity pension scheme, once in 2000, and again in 2018.

At the time of the second application, he was already 69 years old and did not meet the criteria that applicants should not be above 60 years old when submitting the application.

The organisation added that it is still finding ways to help Ho in other ways through its social synergy programme.

Socso said Ho would be contacted again on Feb 27 to inform him of other forms of aid from governmental agencies, NGOs and related organisations.

FMT reported previously that Ho, who is blind since he was three, claimed he was sent on a wild goose chase by Socso when seeking their assistance. Ho said he had gone to Parliament in an attempt to meet human resources minister V Sivakumar to seek his help, but was turned away by security guards and shunned by his aide.