MUKAH: Cobbler Wahab Razak found it hard to cope with everyday life during the movement control order (MCO) which was enforced from March 18 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Throughout the period, he could not carry out his business as usual at the five-foot walkway of the dry market in the old town here.
“It was really suntuk (hard life) for me and my family,” said the 55-year-old father of nine children to New Sarawak Tribune yesterday.
He revealed that in spite of the restrictions, he had to continue his services at home in order to make ends meet.
He added that his income was not as good because there was less customers.
Business then slowly picked up during the conditional movement control order (CMCO) as he was allowed to resume his services at his usual location and during the current recovery movement control order (RMCO).
He said he was thankful to the government for providing financial aid including the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) during the restriction period.
Wahab, who has been mending shoes and other footwear for more than 10 years, was allowed to operate from 7am to 3pm now compared to from 7am to 2pm during the CMCO.
However, he revealed that the current business hours was a bit short compared to 7am to 5pm prior to the MCO, as the latter, according to him, was a suitable time for customers to drop by.
Wahab said previously he was assisted by his two sons but at the moment, they are preparing for their PT3 and SPM examinations this year.
In the meantime, he is being assisted by Mohd Jebat Bohari, 41, from Judan near here, who reported for duty yesterday.
