The pandemic has affected so many people, and among the ones who were hit the hardest were the small and independent local businesses in Malaysia. With various movement controls in the past year and people staying home more, many businesses that failed to make the digital transition were hit hard.
Ooi Choon Ean is a 54-year-old seafood seller at Pasar Batu Lanchang, Penang. She’s been running her family-owned business for about 20 years now, and like most wet market operators, her business was badly affected during the first MCO.app. “Getting on the Grab app was his idea. I didn’t understand how it worked, but it was worth trying. His father is a little old fashioned, and believed in everything being cash-basis, so he was a bit apprehensive at first,” said Ooi.
“But since working with Grab, we have seen a good pick up in our sales after being badly affected during the first MCO,” she added.“He started helping my husband and I after school. Then after Form 5, he contemplated going into business. So it made sense for him to work at our stall full time,” she said.
“From waking up early to choose our produce, managing the stall, entertaining patrons and thinking of ways to serve more people, he does it all every day.