GEORGE TOWN: A group of Penang trishaw riders have submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow to reinstate their RM200 monthly allowance which has been cut by half.

       They added that the allowance hasn’t been paid since January and was only deposited in their bank accounts after learning about a protest that was going to be held in front of Komtar on Wednesday (March 16).

       Noordin Lazim, 57, who has been pedalling his trishaw - a Penang tourist attraction - for 30 years said around 100 trishaw riders in George Town and Batu Ferringhi were feeling disappointed with the state government for cutting their allowance and not informing them.

       "We have been waiting for the allowance since January and now it has been reduced. We were supposed to receive RM600, but only got RM300 yesterday without any explanation.

       "We’re going through difficult times because there are fewer customers now,” he said when met at Komtar.

       Another trishaw rider, Mohd Ibrahim Mohd, 69, said he hopes the state government will restore the RM200 allowance because the money has helped them with their expenses.

       "If we only get RM100, RM50 is spent for leasing the trishaw. If we get RM200, the remainder can be used for other expenses.

       "So I’m asking the state government to pay us the full allowance as there are only a few tourists and we make very little money,” he said.

       The memorandum was submitted to Chow’s information officer Zahar Zainul earlier today by a group of trishaw pedallers and representatives from non-governmental organisations, Urban Life Volunteer and Penang Surplus Welfare Association (Surplus).

       Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said in a statement that the state government has never sidelined the trishaw pedallers and prioritises the people’s welfare.

       On their part, he said, they have been working closely with government authorities to provide them with shelter and (his committee) opened bank accounts for them in 2020 to pay the monthly allowance of RM100 and to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.

       "We empathise with the trishaw pedallers and doubled their allowance to RM200 for six months from June - December 2021.”

       He added that he has made a recommendation to the state government to continue paying the monthly allowance of RM200 per month. - Bernama