Blind man shines at work

Polished: Mohammed Rosli standing at the car wash in Gombak. He has become a hit with netizens after a video of him at work went viral. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR: Blind car wash worker Mohammed Rosli Asamari is winning customers over with his expertise in washing and polishing car tyres and rims.

Recently, one of his satisfied customers took a video of him at work and it has since gone viral on social media and received over 171,000 views, with netizens singing praises of the 29-year-old worker, as well as for his employer for hiring him despite his disability.

He has been working at Mie Car Wash & Services in Taman Samudera in Gombak, Selangor, for the last 10 years and he carries out the tasks assigned to him as competently as his able-bodied co-workers.

Mohammed Rosli told Bernama that it was hard for him to get a job.

Mohammed Rosli was born blind in his left eye and with limited vision in the other eye. However, two years ago his right eye became completely blind as well.

Not wanting to be a burden to his parents – Maina Sayadi, 62, and Asamari Sainal, 69 – he got his first job, also at a car wash, more than a decade ago but resigned a few months later after he found out that one of the employees there was using his name to borrow money from their employer.

Eventually, with the help of his mother, Mohammed Rosli got to meet his current employer who, he said, was open to hiring persons with disabilities.

Admitting that it took him a while to pick up the necessary skills to perform his duties well at the car wash, he said his employer and colleagues were helpful, which made it easier for him to learn the ropes.

“In the beginning, I used my hands to feel the part of the tyre and rim that needed to be polished. It took me about two to three years before I familiarised myself with this work. As time passed, I became more adept at my job. My friends also help me by checking my work and making any rectification if I make a mistake,” he said, adding that his employer gave him the space and time to learn and master the necessary skills.

Commenting on the video clip that went viral recently, Mohammed Rosli said while he appreciated the words of encouragement and support from netizens, he, however, doesn’t think about such things.

“I just think about work. I’m happy just to be able to hand over some money to my parents and help to ease their financial burden as they are getting older”.

Car wash owner Suhaimi Abdullah, 50, said special people like Mohammed Rosli deserve to be given job opportunities to enable them to make a living.

Suhaimi added that Mohammed Rosli’s sincerity and diligence at work has inspired him to be more receptive to hiring other disabled workers in the future.