JOHOR BARU: E-hailing and taxi-drivers in this city, struggling for fares ever since the causeway was closed, gained some relief of their plight from the Smiles for Miles campaign launched today by the Holiday Inn Johor Baru City Centre (JBCC).
As they dropped off fares at the hotel this afternoon, each driver was greeted with a surprise package.
The hotel gave away free packets of lunch and mineral water for e-hailing drivers and taxi drivers at its drop-off lobby.
Some 50 e-hailing and taxi drivers were seen queuing up to get their packets at lunchtime.
Smiles of relief and gratitude were seen on the faces of the drivers as they collected lunch packets from Cheah Hooi Theng, the hotel's general manager and Keyin Tay, assistant director of marketing communication.
The location of the hotel is right on top of JBCC with new facilities, along with modern interiors that suit all types of staycationers.
"The main purpose of our Smiles for Miles project is to re-introduce to people our new location which is in the heart of the city," Tay said.
Besides, she said, many of the drivers have been driving for hours non-stop and needed a pause to satisfy their hunger.
"This is the first time we are doing this project and if the response is good we will consider doing it from time to time," added Tay.
"We must realise that times have been bad for these taxi and e-hailing drivers and with the causeway still closed, many of them are finding it hard to make ends meet," she noted.
"Also, a simple lunch nowadays cost RM10.00 now and that is without a drink. What about finding a parking lot which is not easy in the city.
"We at Holiday Inn JBCC care for our guests but at the same time, we care for the people who drop-off our guests at the hotel too.
"We do not want to be like the 'peanut forgetting its skin' as our smile campaign continues in service to people of all strata of society," Tay explained.
Taxi driver Adnan Debok, 54, said: "Times have been bad for us in this pandemic as very few people get into our taxis these days."
He said many prefer to take other means of public transport which is even cheaper.
"If things go on like this we taxi drivers will have to go home empty handed at the end of the day," Adnan lamented.
He said that when he can't make enough to take home, he sometimes skips lunch
"I'm grateful to Holiday Inn JBCC for at least thinking of us during this pandemic," said Adnan who has been driving his taxi for 23 years.
Grab driver Rajah Rajagopal, 31, also admitted that "times have been bad for us."
"I work fulltime as a grab driver and getting customers these days is not that easy," he said.
Rajah has to work more than eight hours to take home about RM130 a day.
"When you can't make it, it's better not to think of your lunch," he said.
He appreciated the gesture of Holiday Inn JBCC for being kind enough to think of people like him during the pandemic.
"Getting a lunch pack now is expensive and what more if you ask for extra rice or meat," he said, adding that getting a bottled drink to go with the meal added to costs.
Raising his lunch packet in acknowledgement, he said, "This is a real relief."