Malaysian OKU Mother With Autism Walks Miles to Deliver Food After Losing Her Bicycle to Theft

For the past six years, a single mother who is also a person with disabilities (OKU) has relied on a bicycle and her own two feet to deliver food and earn a living.

Nur Rahimah Alia Salehuddin, 44, who has been diagnosed with autism, revealed that she sometimes walks up to 20 kilometres (km) just to complete her deliveries. Despite the challenges, she continues to persevere as securing permanent employment has proven difficult.

“I’m grateful even when I only get jobs for two or three hours. That’s all I can do because the delivery slots are limited,” she said.

Image Credit: Harian Metro

In an interview with Harian Metro, Nur Rahimah shared that she previously worked in information technology (IT) and software testing for several companies before becoming a food delivery rider.

However, she left her job in 2018 to care for her ailing mother. After her mother passed away in 2020, she struggled to find stable employment.

“I applied for several jobs, including positions in the F&B sector, but some employers never got back to me. I started working as a food delivery rider in 2020 after repeatedly failing to secure a job. Maybe it's because they see me as an OKU person,” she said.

Nur Rahimah's marriage also ended in 2018, leaving her to support herself and her nine-year-old child. Fortunately, her younger sibling has been helping to support the family alongside her modest income as a food delivery rider.

Diagnosed with autism after experiencing bullying

According to Nur Rahimah, she was diagnosed with autism in 2003 while pursuing her diploma studies after experiencing bullying on campus.

She explained that her condition makes it difficult for her to understand jokes, sarcasm, and indirect forms of communication, including in workplace settings.

“It’s not that I can’t joke around, but it’s difficult for me to understand the implied meaning behind what people say.”

Her bicycle was stolen near an MRT station

Although Nur Rahimah previously used a bicycle to travel between delivery locations, she now has to rely solely on walking after the bicycle was stolen.

It is understood that she received the bicycle through a community programme at the end of 2020.

According to her, she had secured the bicycle with a lock near MRT Surian Station. However, when she returned, the bicycle had disappeared, leaving only the chain behind.

Image Credit: Harian Metro

As a result, she has been forced to continue working on foot, carrying both her personal belongings and delivery bag throughout the day.

Looking ahead, Nur Rahimah hopes to find an opportunity to work as an English tutor, drawing on her experience helping friends with the language during her university years.

“For now, until I receive a permanent job offer, I will continue walking to deliver food so I can earn a living and support my child,” she said.

Featured Image Credit: Harian Metro