Unique Advertisement in Malaysia – Part II

Transliteration: ‘Change (motorcycle) Tube’
Recently, local newspaper, the Star featured an article on the mobile repairmen who roam around the city offering technical assistance. It was an interesting read as the above advertisement is quite common in the Klang Valley.
The Star interviewed couple of these repairmen.
Din, 42, is a clerk and has been a repairman in his spare time for the last seven years.

“Although there is much talk about the Gang Paku, I don’t feel guilty because I am not one of them. I feel there are a few of them who do it but sometimes motorcyclists stare at us as if we are all guilty. I make an honest living and can fetch about RM3,000 to RM5,000 monthly just doing this part-time, especially since I am a mechanic,” Din said.
“Over the years, I have placed my number at petrol stations in and around Kuala Lumpur and Sungai Buloh. Sometimes, I just can’t handle the calls, especially when some come in as early as 5am. The rule is, when a customer calls, he or she must agree on the price. If not, I would not go and fix the puncture. The normal rates are from RM20 to RM25. After midnight, repairing a punctured tyre will cost RM35,” he said.
Din said he was especially pleased with the work as he was doing a good deed for motorcyclists.
On the way: Zaili rushing to the aid of a motorcyclist.
“My greatest reward is having a motorcyclist say thank you and this is all I need to keep going.
“Besides repairing punctured motorcycles to feed my family, I also help my wife prepare traditional Malay kuih to sell in the market in Sungai Buloh,” said Din.

Mohd Naza Azhar, 27, one of the youngest repairman, said he does this job because he has to feed his two young daughters.

“I travel about 300km daily and would sometimes use RM21 worth of petrol just to find motorcycles to repair. I also take money for workmanship for buying petrol for stalled vehicles and fixing car tyres. I use to be a despatch rider about three years ago and had to quit because my wife was pregnant. Now, I am divorced and take care of my two children – Nur Alya Shahira, three and two year-old son Mohd Hakimi Asraf,” Naza said.
“I am proud of this job as there is cash everyday for me to save. At least I don’t steal and make an honest living. I start work at about 7am and return at 7pm just in time for dinner with my kids. If I am hardworking, I could earn between RM80 to RM100 a day,” said Naza, who is furious over the Gang Paku issue and would charge less for motorcyclists who have nails in their tyres.

Fazalee Mohd Pauzi, 32, said he became a repairman after his motorcycle was punctured and its chain snapped along Old Klang Road 11 years ago and a motorcycle repairman came to his aid.

“Being a despatch rider and having a pregnant wife, I followed the repairman’s advice and took it up as a profession. Then, I practiced opening my own motorcycle tyre and replacing it until I was confident. I only had RM50 in my wallet for the month and brought a few motorcycle tubes, a pump and a tool set and began my journey, “ Fazalee said.
“I still recalled the first motorcycle tyre I patched up was a Suzuki RC80 in Cheras and my hands trembled as I was fixing the tyre. It took me 45 minutes to repair the tyre compared to 10 to 15 minutes at present. Today, I have no regrets. I own a car and my income is stable although I have a daytime job as a driver,” he said.
Fazalee stations himself at the Caltex petrol kiosk in Jalan Tun Razak from 9pm onwards while his friend Zaili Mohd Ibrahim stations himself at the Shell petrol kiosk in San Peng waiting for distress calls from motorcyclists.
Bad deal: Nails like these are strewn along the road by a group known as Gang Paku.
“I have been in this business for a long time and the customers I have are loyal. My numbers are not placed at petrol stations or others areas. Some motorcyclist would even owe me money and pay the next day. I do this because it satisfies me while taking care of my family,” Fazalee said.

Read the entire article here @ The Star Newspaper