Orang KL

No city for lazy people

Interview by: Abdul Hakim Rahman

Facebook Twitter Email Google Whatsapp
Prev
Next

SUHAIMI ABU BAKAR

Burger stall proprietor, 45. Born and bred in Kuala Lumpur.

I AM from Kuala Lumpur. There are so many things I like about this place... people's behaviour, how they act. There are some who fight, some who commit crimes. I don’t like people who act up. Some in Kuala Lumpur even commit snatch thefts in public places. This makes Kuala Lumpur look bad.

THE CITY is alright. If you’re happy here, then everything will be so, vice versa. You have to know how to entertain yourself in Kuala Lumpur. However, there is one thing, if you want to survive here; you have to work hard. You can do any kind of job...collect tins, junk or boxes, InsyaAllah, everything will be fine.

Kuala Lumpur
People checking out and bargaining for second hand items at the Junkyard market in Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur. AWANI / SHAHIR OMAR

ENTREPRENEURS can make it Kuala Lumpur. I have plied my trade here for more than 20 years. Before that, I was a dispatch rider. I am not that smart when it comes to studies. So, I choose to work hard. As long as I am sincere in what I do, InsyaAllah, it will be a success.

MY unforgettable experience while selling burgers is when people are cynical towards me and what I do. Some even told the police that I sell drugs. That is not the truth, but well, some people have misconceptions of what I do, selling burgers by the roadside.

FROM there I learn to respect people. I make friends with most people. We have to be nice when mingling with people. Watch our words and it does not hurt to smile often.

THERE is a vast difference between running a business back then, and now. There used to be a lot of people. Nowadays, even the buses in Pudu Sentral were shifted to TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan), so my income was affected a little.

SO FAR, I have yet to feel real difficulty in KL. I believe as long as my intentions are true, everything will be alright. Be good to people, don't hurt them. Most important is your health. Be healthy, life is less difficult that way.

TO say I am rich by just selling burgers will be an overstatement but I can make a living from it. If you save, you can have what other people have as well. To sum it up, I have never gone hungry by selling burgers.

Kuala Lumpur
Malaysians queuing to buy some satay during dinner time in Pasar Malam. AWANI / SHAHIR OMAR

I MISS running a business in a group. When there are many individuals, I feel more motivated to do my job. Actually, I miss my old friends. I do hope they come visit me here sometimes. I do not know what happened to them.

Those who come to KL should come here with a purpose. For those boys, especially from the villages, what is your intention when you come to KL? If it is to work, then work hard.

THOSE who come to KL should come here with a purpose. You must be hard working. Don't just come here to hang out. You will get absolutely nothing by hanging out. For those boys, especially from the villages, what is your intention when you come to KL? If it is to work, then work hard.

THE bad image of KL is usually brought over from the people outside. When you’re lazy to do honest work, then you’ll start disturbing others. That is when some turn to snatch theft and other bad things. All because you’re too lazy to do an honest work.