WITHOUT foreign tourists, trishaw riders in Penang are facing the brunt of the Covid-19 economic fallout.
Many of them, who are mostly senior citizens, have turned the three-wheeled vehicles into homes as they could not afford to pay room rentals.
Some of them even shower and do their laundry at public toilets.
Samsudin Ahmad, 65, has been “staying” in his trishaw for the past three to four months as he could not afford to pay for his rented room in Perak Road.
“When the pandemic first hit us last year, I could still survive with my little savings.
“After many months of not getting any income, I have no choice but to move out.
Kong (black T-shirt) lamenting his woes to his fellow trishaw riders at Armenian Street in George Town, Penang. Photos: LIM BENG TATT and CHAN BOON KAI/The Star
CHINESE New Year is one of the festive seasons where trishaw riders are able to earn extra money from angpows given by their customers.
Some riders have even received angpows worth hundreds of ringgit during the festival in previous years.
However, all that has changed due to the dwindling number of tourists as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and movement control order (MCO).
A trishaw rider, who wished to be known as Kong, 58, said he used to make an extra RM400 during Chinese New Year from the angpows he received from his customers.