THE Covid-19 pandemic and the movement-control order (MCO) to fight it have caused severe economic hardship to many, and blind masseurs are not spared.

Three months after the MCO was initially implemented on March 18, the government has allowed most sectors to reopen but not massage centres, leaving blind masseurs with no income.

Healthy Blind Massage administrator Ang Kong Heng, 53, told The Malaysian Insight that there are seven masseurs under its employment, and the business owner has been giving only RM200 to RM300 to each masseur as allowance. 

“Those who are single have already returned to their hometowns or they remain in dormitories. I am one of the lucky ones, as my wife is still gainfully employed so we can take care of our children. 

“We still need to pay school fees for online learning,” he said.

Ang, who has been in the business for eight years, said he could earn at least RM1,800 a month before the MCO, and up to RM3,000 if business was good. 

“Now, our income has been cut drastically. We even have to depend on donations, such as rice, flour and oil from charity groups for our daily meals. Even then we have to ration it,” he said. 

Ang said it’s difficult for the blind to find jobs, with massage parlours being the only viable option. 

“We can’t change professions. We are disabled and we can’t see. The only alternatives are working at hawker centres, busking or selling tissues at train stations,” he said. 

“But with the pandemic to consider, everyone has to keep their distance. How many customers do you think we would get?” 

Certified Blind Masseurs’ Association president Lee Sheng Chow agreed with Ang, saying: “Where can we go? Who would want us?”

Lee, who founded the first blind massage centre in Malaysia, said the visually impaired can only earn a minimal income either way, with the options being arts and crafts, or if they are educated, becoming teachers. 

“The income from arts and crafts is very little, and teachers don’t earn much either. Hence, many blind people become masseurs,” he said. 

Lee said the profession allows the visually impaired to make a decent living, with some earning enough to get married or even buy a house for themselves. 

“Nobody expected a pandemic to throw us all into such dire straits. Those who saved up when times were good can still sustain themselves somewhat, but how long can that last?”

Lee said as a massage centre operator, he has to also foot the bill for rent and wages despite having zero income. 

“Our centre has a few dozen masseurs and we all have no income. We can only give our employees some allowance to help them survive. 

“Some of our workers are receiving some assistance from the welfare department, but some of them are married. How are they going to live on just a few hundred ringgit?”

Lee’s Urut Tradisional PB has been a fixture in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur for 37 years. He said the area used to have more than 10 blind massage centres but the pandemic had forced most to close, leaving only two or three. 

“Before the pandemic, more competition emerged in the area and business was getting slow. Now there are only a few major players left. 

“With a reputation of good quality services, I believe we can survive,” he said.

There are about 2,000 to 5,000 blind masseurs in Malaysia, said Lee, urging the government to allow massage centres to resume operations as they desperately need the income. 

“We are working together with other groups in the industry and have submitted proposed health and safety procedures to the government, but I don’t know if they will be approved.” – June 18, 2020.