PENANG’S small band of trishaw riders claim they have been largely forgotten by state aid officers and non-governmental groups in the wake of last weekend’s massive floods, which badly damaged six trishaws and rendered many others unroadworthy.

As clean-up efforts begin in Penang and the bustle around George Town slowly resumes, trishaws – one of the state’s iconic tourist attractions – are glaringly missing from the city’s busy roads.

Penang Trishaw Pedallers Association head Koay Beng Hong Au said riders had been ignored by the authorities following Saturday’s storm.

Strong winds blew the roof off one of the buildings in St Francis Church compound, sending it crashing onto trishaws parked by the side of the road. 

“We have about only 40 pedallers, and the association is not as active as it used to be,” said Koay.

“But after such a big storm, there was no call even to say hello, let alone to ask if help was needed.”

 “There are 10 executive councillors (minus the chief minister) in the state government, and each has enough staff members working for them. Can all of them be too busy?” he told The Malaysian Insight. 

Six of the trishaws were wrecked by the roof, damaging them and rendering them unsafe for the road.

While Koay said the “act of God” was unavoidable, he lamented the lack of government support as each day that the riders wee unable to work was a day without income.

“For a trishaw pedaller, a day off work is long enough. They need to ride to earn a living,” he said.

Koay, who owns 40 trishaws, is looking at a repair bill of RM2,000 to RM3,000 for the six damaged trishaws. It will also take days for all to be roadworthy again. 

“We just need the trishaws repaired to be safe enough for the road, so the riders can continue working.”

He said he would welcome any state financial assistance, but was not optimistic of receiving any as the state government would likely have to prioritise funds for flood relief works and rebuilding damaged infrastructure and homes.

The trishaw riders usually gather and operate in Tanjong, where the parliamentary seat and its affiliated state constituencies of Komtar, Pengkalan Kota and Padang Kota are all held by DAP.

The party leads the Pakatan Harapan state government. 

Koay said he would have to repair the trishaws in batches due to the cost, and has left the ones which have yet to be fixed parked on the pavement by Jalan Penang. 

Trishaw maker Choo Choon Yew, the only person in Penang who can fix the trishaws, said he had repaired two of vehicles. A third is waiting outside his workshop in George Town. 

“Fixing them is not a problem. All you need is money,” said Choo. – November 8, 2017.