A Singaporean TransCab driver has apparently been sleeping in his taxi ever since the lockdown took effect in Malaysia on March 18.
The taxi driver's plight about not being able to return home was shared on Facebook on April 11 by a passenger.
The post revealed that the taxi driver has a home and family in Malaysia but works in Singapore.
The taxi driver has to be a Singaporean as the taxi-driving vocation is open only to locals.
Taxi driver has been sleeping in taxi
The passenger and a colleague had encountered this particular taxi driver at Maxwell Food Centre after packing food back to their workplace.
After receiving a confirmed booking on the app, the passengers initially noticed that there was no driver in the taxi despite it being parked just opposite them.
The passenger figured the driver might have gone to use the toilet, or to buy a meal from the food centre.
When the taxi driver showed up, he revealed that he lives in Johor Bahru and has been sleeping in his taxi ever since the lockdown happened in Malaysia.
Driver said taxi company does not provide accommodation
After showing Koh and his colleague the address on his identification card (IC), the taxi driver said his taxi company has helped by waiving off taxi rent for a month but does not provide accommodation.
He had apparently tried to search for a place to stay in Singapore, but found everywhere "relatively expensive".
The passenger also uploaded a video of him asking the driver in Mandarin: “What if you need to take a shower?”
Image via Alvin Aragon Koh on Facebook
In response, the driver mentioned that he has been using the shower facilities at Sentosa and "somewhere near Woodlands Checkpoint".
The driver then told them that he does not eat in his taxi as he is afraid that people would take photos of him for "not eating at a proper place" and then post it on social media.
The passenger ended his post by urging people to smile and thank front line workers during this crucial period.
As of April 10, Malaysia has extended their lockdown period till April 28, 2020.
You can view the full post here:
Image via Alvin Aragon Koh on Facebook
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Top image via Alvin Aragon Koh on Facebook