Socso aid brings relief to family of trishaw rider killed in accident

MELAKA: Tourism Melaka is grateful to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) for speeding up the delivery of financial aid to the family of a tourist trishaw rider who died in an accident in December last year.

C. Gangkathran, who is the tourism audit manager, said the monthly pension of RM945 and RM2,000 in funeral assistance brought some comfort to Cheah Chong Leong's family.

“These riders are the pillar of the local tourism industry," he said.

He also praised the decision by Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali to register the riders for insurance indemnities with Socso in 2020.

“Tourism Melaka would also like to thank state Socso director Abd Razak Omar for taking the trouble to speed up the assistance for the family,” Gangkathran said after visiting Cheah’s family at Kenanga Apartments here on Wednesday (March 15).

With him were Abd Razak and Tourism Melaka promotion manager Lim Swee Kiang.

Cheah, 51, started in the job in 2018, servicing tourists at Jonker Walk here.

He was killed on Dec 8 while riding his motorcycle on his way to pick up his trishaw at a depot in Jalan Banda Kaba here just after breakfast with his family.

Cheah left behind his wife Chong Kai Ling, 54, and their 16-year-old daughter Xiong Yu.

In 2020, the Melaka government started making an annual contribution to Socso to cover 325 of these riders.

The contribution amounting to RM177,636 was made on behalf of the riders who are part of four trishaw associations as well as 805 taxi drivers here.

Each of the contribution is worth RM157.20 and meant for the protection of the two groups.

Separately, Abd Razak said stall operators at Ramadan bazaars in the state can sign up for Socso coverage throughout the holy month with as low as RM13.10 for one month.