IPOH: Where there is a will, there is a way.
This is proven by food delivery worker, Siti Khadijah Suhaimi, who stands out in a sector primarily dominated by men on motorcycles.
The 29-year-old is the only female food delivery worker who rides a bicycle to make good on orders in Ipoh.
Originally from Pengkalan, near here, she said she joined Foodpanda about two weeks ago after quitting her job in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, in July this year.
"I worked at a beverage outlet in Cameron Highlands and due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, my employer had no choice but to cut my salary by half.
"After the salary cut, I was only earning RM600 and it was impossible to survive. Then, I decided to return to Ipoh and applied to join Foodpanda," she said when met in Jalan Sultan Abdul Jalil, here, today.
Images of Siti Khadijah delivering orders on a bicycle went viral on social media last week, with netizens praising her for her hard work.
The second of six siblings said that, at first, she was pretty shy to think that she had to ride a bicycle to deliver orders. But, then she decided to take it as a challenge instead.
"My parents approved of the job. My father even bought the bicycle for me. They always tell me to be careful when I'm on the road delivering orders and meeting people.
"I realise this is a dangerous job for a woman, but nothing is impossible. There was a time when a motorcyclist tapped on my phone when I was holding it.
"My phone dropped and the screen cracked. I was in tears, but I told myself that it's okay. I accepted this job, and it means I have to accept this as a challenge."
Siti Khadijah, who has a certificate in pastry making from a college in Melaka, said taking up cycling is one of the best decisions she ever made as it could boost her health and fitness.
"I have lost 4kg within two weeks. I am more than happy and I hope to shed more kilos," she said.
Siti Khadijah added that she needs to cycle more than 15km every day to deliver food ordered by customers.
"It gives me satisfaction whenever I manage to meet the customer's orders," she said.