Malaysian sidewalk mechanic helping people by roadside

Ipoh, Malaysia: It is 3:30 am and raining. While many are sleeping, Rahmat Azahari Sufian Tan, a sidewalk mechanic, is working hard to repair his customer’s motorcycle at the roadsides of the city. Rahmat Azahari, 42, has an experience spanning 20 years as a sidewalk mechanic. He provides repairing services for motorcycles and cars including engine breakdown, punctured tire, spark plugs, and other mechanical problems. He chose this work to help those in trouble especially at night around the city of Ipoh. “My intention for working at night is to help those in need, payment is a secondary matter. It is important to help those in need,” he told Bernama, the Malaysian news agency.

Rahmat Azahari, who is still single, said he gains satisfaction from helping people and he did not mind working by the roadsides although it was dark, rainy or scorching hot as long as the income he receives is halal (permissible). “Usually the customers would call or find me at any of the petrol stations along Jalan Sultan Idris Shah because I would usually be around there waiting for customers,” he said. He uses a motorcycle to help him to get to the customers. He said the main obstacle he had to face was some hostile people whom he came across. “Once, I was assaulted by a crazy person with broken glass bottles while repairing a customer’s motorcycle but thank God, I managed the situation.

“I’ve been accustomed to being deceived. The customers promised to pay but they disappeared. But I set in my mind perhaps they are in trouble and remind myself that my intention is to help those in need,” he said, adding that his job needs patience and courage. Rahmat Azahari was grateful that with the income earned, he could care for his mother and sister. “I do not have any certificate, but I keep learning to improve my repairing skills to earn for a living,” he said.

By Bernama