Malacca election brings windfall to laundry operator

Disappointment, worry and fear. That was the feeling of Farah Rahimah Mohamed Rashid, 31, the operator of Dobi Ibunda laundry store when she found out the Melaka state election would be held following the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly on Oct 4.

Farah Rahimah was afraid the implementation of the election in Melaka would lead to a spike in positive Covid-19 cases and thereby denting her laundry business which has just recovered after being hit during the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Nonetheless, her apprehension was unfounded as she was pleasantly surprised to find the laundry business she is operating with her husband, Abdul Ghani Ab Aziz, 31, has been receiving endless streams of customers from personnel in the Melaka election especially media representatives and government employees.

“It was a drastic change in revenue during the election especially in early November...our income went up by several folds… from about RM100 a day to between RM700 and RM800. This is our good fortune from the election.

“Before this, we could only take in RM100. But Alhamdulillah, we even have to turn away customers as we are overloaded with laundry especially those who wanted express service,” she said when met by Bernama at her shop in Jalan Tasik Utama here today.

Farah Rahimah who was formerly a TESL teacher at a private school in Kuala Lumpur said most customers opted for the express service which takes one day at a charge of RM5 per kilogramme compared to the normal service which takes three days at a rate of RM3.50 per kg.

The mother of three said the high demand for express service and normal washings brought in extra revenue which was enough for her to invest in a new washing machine costing more than RM2,000.

“We also provide collection and delivery of laundry for customers from house-to-house or even hotels within five kilometers from our shop with an additional charge of RM5,” said Farah Rahimah who has six machines including dryers to help her give the best service to her customers.

Even though she is happy about the income boom, she is still very wary of the Covid-19 infection in her line of business, especially when handling the soiled clothes of strangers.

Farah Rahimah said for example, clothes sent for ironing only would still be washed again as a measure to prevent the spread Covid-19.

"I have once received a set of PPE from a customer without prior information...I was very shocked when I open the package as I do not provide the service of cleaning PPE,” she said.

Farah Rahimah who has been operating the laundry shop for 10 years, said she also engaged a part-time worker three times a week in her shop and the worker has to be screened with the Antigen Rapid Test as a precautionary measure against Covid-19 infection.

- Bernama