AT just 12 or 13, Low Kim Chuan began pedalling a trishaw through the streets of George Town, earning him the nickname Chiko.
More than six decades later, the 74-year-old remains one of Penang’s most recognisable trishaw riders, with an unusual distinction — he speaks 16 languages, including English, Greek, French, Arabic, Japanese and German.
“I picked up many of these languages during my six years as a sailor travelling around the world. Chiko is a nickname given to me when I was a young boy riding a trishaw,” Low told Buletin Mutiara during an interview at Armenian Street, a heritage area in George Town that attracts tourists daily.
“I have been a trishaw rider for more than 40 years. It gives me great pleasure when returning visitors recognise me even after 15 or 20 years — all because of the good rapport I have built with them,” he said.
Low, who studied at a Chinese primary school in Datuk Keramat until Standard Six, said he could earn between RM100 and RM150 a day. He expressed his appreciation to the state government for providing a monthly allowance of RM200 to registered trishaw riders, of which he is one of the 92 recipients.
“The allowance definitely helps reduce our burden,” said Low, who also enjoys collecting old coins, including a silver coin bearing the image of King George The Sixth from 1937.
Another rider, Edward Kanaperen, 40, said he has been riding trishaw for the past three years.
“As a trishaw rider, you need to approach visitors. You will not get any business unless you encourage them to take a ride around the heritage site.
“Business can be brisk at times, but when it rains, we may not have any customers at all,” he said.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said Penang currently has 92 registered trishaw riders, who continue to serve as the state’s mobile tourism ambassadors.
“Introduced in George Town in 1941, the trishaw has become synonymous with Penang.
“The state government allocates a monthly allowance of RM200 to each rider to help preserve this traditional mode of transport. They have registered themselves through the Penang Island City Council’s uLesen licensing system,” Wong said.
He added that trishaw culture has the potential to be recognised as state heritage and that trishaws would be featured alongside other cultural elements during this year’s National Day Parade.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting
