FORMER national Paralympian Lee Sheng Chow fears losing his traditional massage centre as the lockdown keeps the business closed.

The 67-year-old told The Malaysian Insight he may have to shut down the 37-year-old centre therapeutic massage centre if the lockdown is not lifted by the end of the year.

Located along Jalan Thambipillay in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, the centre is one of the pioneer outlets offering traditional massage services by the blind.

Lee told The Malaysian Insight that he hopes the government will help the blind community.

“I want the government to take a good look around and help us, a handicapped group.  

“We are struggling now. I may have to close down because we can’t continue to bleed like this,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Lee’s business has been shut down by the various movement control orders (MCOs) that have been issued since the onset of the pandemic.

Lee, who employs about 40 permanent and part-time blind masseurs, said he and his workers have been left with zero income.

In June, Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said massage centres can only open in phase four of the national recovery plan.  

Lee said his workers are struggling to make ends meet.

“For food there are no issues as we are provided daily meals from the various soup kitchens.

“But money is very tight. We don’t know how long this pandemic is going to last. My staff need to care for their families, pay rent and other bills.

“The government needs to do more than give RM500 aid. If not, the blind will end up on the streets.

“If the government can’t help this minority group, then who will?”

At least 70 more blind owners of massage centres and buskers are in Lee’s predicament.

DBKL flats

Malaysian Association for the Blind CEO George Thomas said there are 51,000 blind people in Malaysia and they need assistance.

The association’s biggest concern is for those who can’t afford to pay their rent.

“This is especially so for the daily wage earners. We have been able to support them with food baskets and packed meals, but that’s not enough,” Thomas said.

“We appealed to the government and they gave RM500 for three months under the Prihatin package for only those who are not receiving salaried income. This is not enough. We appeal to the government for more assistance.

“Since the first MCO (in March last year) till now, they have not been able to open for a total of 250 days.

“They are struggling because they have to pay rent varying from RM2,000 to RM7,000 monthly.

“We hope that the government will allow those who are fully vaccinated to open their massage centres and that it will also look into providing more monetary aid for them.”

As for those seeking a low-cost flat, Thomas hopes Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will assist them promptly.

“There are about 20 blind folk still waiting for a home from DBKL. We are assisting them to get the units.”

Another blind massage centre owner S. Vanagopal said his business has been closed for months.

He rents a room in Brickfields which he had converted into a massage studio and said even if they were allowed to open, he can only get about one or two customers as people are afraid to go out.

“I’m still paying monthly rent of RM450 for the room and RM650 for my home in Puchong where my wife, who is unemployed, and two children live.

“I’m currently taking care of my family with the government’s welfare assistance and some savings.”

Vanagopal said that he applied to DBKL for a low-cost flat in 2017.

“I called many times, but DBKL’s answer is always the same, which is, my application is being processed,” he said.

“If I can get the flat, for which the rent is low, I will be able to move my family here.”

He said while he does get government assistance, it is not enough to sustain his family.

Single mother Nur Nadira Rubiana Bunsu, from Sarawak, is also hoping for a DBKL flat.

The 30-year-old busker, who is blind, said she cannot perform during the lockdown, which has affected her only source of income.

“Currently I’m renting a flat in Sentul, Kuala Lumpur for RM1,400, where I live with my six-year-old child,” Nur Nadira said.

“I applied for a flat two years ago to DBKL and was told that we were on the waiting list.

“I have also sent an appeal letter, but we are still waiting.

“Getting the flat will definitely lift a huge burden off.”

She said she is able to survive for now on her savings.

“We appreciate the food aid, but we still need to work to survive,” Nur Nadira added. – August 10, 2021.