Wheelchair-Bound GrabFood Driver Works Even Though Siblings Can Support Her

When I see articles about GrabFood deliveries, they are usually of the weirder varieties.

You know what I mean. Grab shoes? Grab Towel?

I still don’t exactly understand what happened by the way. Some mysteries will forever remain as mysteries.

But once in a while, we get heart-warming anecdotes.

This is Ms Sumaiyah Ghazali, and she is pretty much like any other food-deliverer out there.

They travel under the hot sun. Sometimes, they brave the crazy monsoon rain. All of these efforts just to get your food to you while it’s still hot (or cold, if you ordered ice-cream).

But I’m sure you would have realized by now that Ms Sumairayh has some restrictions to her mobility: she has to go about her day wheelchair-bound.

Having being diagnosed with cerebral palsy, she has been unable to walk since birth. However, she doesn’t allow her physical disadvantages to hinder her from being independent and self-sufficient.

She said, “I am unable to walk, but with this wheelchair… It’s akin to my legs. At least I can move, I can work.”

Despite having siblings that can help support her and cover her living expenses, Ms Sumaiyah wishes to earn her own keep and live independently.

Ms Sumaiyah started working as a delivery rider with GrabFood at the beginning of the year and works five days a week for six to eight hours each day.

In an interview with Berita Harian, she expressed that one of the challenges of being a delivery rider is to ensure that food is delivered quickly and promptly. It is not uncommon that she receives complaints regarding late deliveries. However, when she reaches her destinations, customers understand her condition and are more sympathetic.

I won’t deny. I’m that person who will keep checking my phone after ordering my food to keep tabs on the progress of the delivery. I get real angsty when I see the estimated time stay stagnant, or worse, increase.

Hunger takes a toll on people. This is a great reminder that sometimes, we don’t always have the full story. Before criticising, understanding other people’s situations and challenges might make our society more empathetic.

After several of these instances, Ms Sumaiyah now makes sure to inform customers of her disability to prevent any misunderstanding from arising. She adds that “I feel good when I deliver food to people. This means my service is useful to the community…”

Despite her limitations, it is heartwarming to see Ms Sumaiyah’s dedication to her job and the pride she takes in her independence.

Truly inspiring and eye-opening to be made aware of the challenges faced by the minority who are disabled in situations that we often take for granted.