Rickshaw man turns to delivering food to earn an income

 

Rickshaw rider Muhammad Sobri Yaakub used to earn RM1,000 to RM1,200 every month before the pandemic hit the country. (Bernama pic)

MALACCA: The devastating impact of Covid-19 has forced 30-year rickshaw rider Muhammad Sobri Yaakub to use his trishaw to make deliveries for Foodpanda.

Rickshaw riders are among those hard-hit by the pandemic as their services were no longer in demand following implementation of various movement control orders (MCO) since March, which brought tourism to a halt.

The father of a three-year-old daughter said his income as a rickshaw puller was severely affected as a result.

“With no one wanting to take a rickshaw ride, there was no income for me,” he said, adding that he was able to earn between RM1,000 and RM1,200 a month as a rickshaw rider, a job he had been doing since he was 15.

Since becoming a Foodpanda rider, he said he could continue supporting his family.

He spoke to Bernama after receiving food aid and contributions from Islamic preacher and entrepreneur Ebit Irawan Ibrahim Lew, better known as Ebit Lew, last night.

Sobri thanked the state and federal governments for taking care of the welfare of rickshaw riders. They received a one-off incentive of RM800 from the government and food aid from various parties.

Ebit Lew said the aid was to reduce the burden of rickshaw riders, who were among those hard-hit by the pandemic. - FMT