EVERYDAY sharp at 8am, Abdul Wahab Abdul Rahman, 76 will be at Pasar Payang, in Terengganu waiting for customers to board his rickshaw. 

That is a routine that Wahab has been accustomed to since the age of 18 – working as a rickshaw rider.

Other Pasar Payang rickshaw riders are the same, starting in their teenage years doing the work tirelessly even though there are no customers. 

Wahab claimed they are the last group of rickshaw riders and there will be no more traditional rickshaw services after this. 

“In five or 10 years, Terengganu’s rickshaws will be no more. There is no one to replace us,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The senior citizen said currently there are 23 rickshaw riders left, including the oldest, aged 78. 

For Abdullah Mohd, 65 it is understandable that the younger generation are not bothered to pedal, given the hard work and low income. 

“We struggled to find money to eat and to feed the family. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, not many people want to ride a rickshaw. 

“When the pandemic hit and there was an interstate travel ban, we were affected because there were no tourists. 

“And even when travelling is allowed back, the situation remains the same for us. We are still struggling,” he said. 

Making income from delivering vegetables, groceries and kuih

Because of the hardship, Abdullah had to find other alternatives by delivering vegetables and groceries from Pasar Payang to be sent to restaurants or eateries. 

“With these two jobs, bringing customers and groceries, I can get RM300 to RM500 a month,” he said, who has been a rickshaw rider for 40 years. 

Mohd Nasir Jusoh, 67, said he had to take up the offer after his income was affected due to the pandemic in order to support his two schoolgoing children. 

Apart from that, Nasir said he also takes his regular “customer” Kamariah Othman, 59, to sell kuih around Kuala Terengganu by rickshaw on a daily basis. 

“I will take Kamariah to sell her kuih. Usually I charge RM6 and we will go around the city. 

“I don’t mind because everyone need to make money to support their families. We do whatever can do we do,” he said. 

Nasir will take two hours daily to travel from his home at Wakaf Mempelam to Pasar Payang.

Cycling for the rest of their lives

Abdul Razak Husin, 69, said they are merely just waiting for time as the job is no longer relevant. 

However, Razak’s rickshaw service once had its heyday. In the 1970s it became the main mode of transport for the people in the state. 

In fact, he had the opportunity to share the experience of a pregnant woman who rode a rickshaw to the hospital to give birth. 

“We didn’t make it to the hospital. She gave birth on my rickshaw. I think it was an experience I will never forget in my 51 years as a rickshaw rider. 

“But that was in the 1970s, when cars were not available so this service was very important, until there were buses, taxis. So we moved from main transport to tourism,” he said. 

Razak expressed unhappiness with the state government for not paying attention to the fate and needs of the riders. 

Until today he said, the state government has not been paying their supposed monthly allowance of RM200 as promised last June. 

“Not only did we not get an allowance but the menteri besar himself never wants to ask about our condition in Pasar Payang. 

“It is strange. Before the 14th general election, we saw him frequently coming down to see us but after winning and forming the government he never set foot near this market. Maybe we will be able to see the menteri besar when GE15 approaches,” he joked. 

Razak said even with his old age and the rickshaw service no longer relevant, he and his friend would still carry the rickshaw to the end. 

Terengganu tourism, culture, information technology committee chairman Arrifin Deraman said there were technical issues that caused the delay in distributing the allowance for rickshaw riders. 

Ariffin said the matter has been resolved and payments will be disbursed soon. – October 31, 2021.