THREE decades ago, A. Raman began his journey as a dobi when he started helping his father pick up and deliver laundry.

At the time, he had no idea that he would be taking over his father’s business and it would become his career for 30 years.

His traditional business survived the ages, despite having to compete with sophisticated laundry services, but the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent movement-control order (MCO) has left him on the brink of financial ruin.

“Business is bad. We have few customers, just enough for us. Before this, I went from house-to-house to pick up clothes but due to the MCO, I could not go out,” Raman told The Malaysian Insight.

He knows Putrajaya is providing assistance to various business sectors but, as he was operating without a licence, he could not apply for any assistance.

“We are doing business without a licence. It is just a traditional business.

“Now I am clueless how I am going to handle things. It is difficult to restart my business because not many people send us clothes anymore,” the 58-year-old told The Malaysian Insight when met recently.

“The business started with my grandfather from India in the early 1900s. It then went to my father.

“When I was in my 20s, I worked briefly in a factory but I joined this laundry business because I thought it was a family legacy.”

Raman’s Ghaut Laundry is on York Road, George Town, close to Penang Hospital.

The dobi business started in India and was brought to Penang in the early 1900s, said Raman.

He said in the 1970s there were more than 100 dobi throughout Penang and they had customers from everywhere.

Yet now, the dobi business is history as he is the only one on the island keeping the business running.

All washing is done by hand, washing in a homemade basin and coal is used to heat the water.

Clothes are picked up from customers’ homes and delivered back when they are cleaned.

Raman charges between RM2 and RM2.50 for each item of clothing, depending on the customer’s background. However, he said wealthy families tend to pay extra for his service.

While 24-hour launderettes are popular, he said traditional laundry has its own advantages.

“Wash clothes with cold water first, then boil them in hot water. With hot water, germs can be killed and all dirt is removed,” said the father-of-three.

He is assisted by an employee, A. Kanhapathi, 58, who is paid RM40 a day.

One load takes about four to five days to complete, depending on the weather.

He starts his pick-up as early as 6.30am every Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The washing process starts on Monday evening.

Some clothes – such as shirts, traditional clothes and designer clothes – will be brought into a “home” kitchen.

After being washed in cold water and soap, they are then soaked in hot water and boiled over a charcoal fire for an hour.

The clothes will then be washed with cold water again before they are dried and pressed.

“Our customers are not fixed. These days, I have fewer customers because they prefer washing machines.

“We rely heavily on our regular customers because many still believe in our services,” he said, adding that he could earn about RM1,000 a month, after expenses.

The work is seen as an easy job, but it requires a lot of energy and he is always busy.

“We work seven days a week, I enjoy this job,” he said.

Raman believes that after he retires, it will be the end of the dobi in Penang.

“My family are no longer interested. They think this is hard work.

“We have to work the under the sun and there is not much profit.” – June 8, 2020.