When a woman’s touch helps in a ‘man’s job’

All in a day’s work: Rabiatusyahida posing in front of her tow truck at the compound of the Penang Island City Council Enforcement Department building in George Town. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

GEORGE TOWN: Park your car illegally and you might have the “privilege” of having your vehicle towed away by the only woman city council tow truck driver in the country.

It is a tough job, not just because of the technicalities involved in towing vehicles, but owners of illegally parked cars will be livid at seeing them carted off.

Rabiatusyahida Mohd Shahidan, a Penang Island City Council tow truck driver, however, takes it in her stride.

The 35-year-old said it was part of her duty to ensure that motorists stick to the rules.

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She said she was a Petaling Jaya City Council truck driver for a decade before applying for the job in Penang in 2023 to be closer to home.

“I was the only woman applying but not once during the interview did the issue of my gender come up.

“I passed the test on the first try,” she said.

Rabiatusyahida, or Ruby as she is fondly called, said her seniors showed her how to handle tow trucks, giving her their trust and encouragement from the first week.

“Some did put me down and said it was a man’s job but it did not bother me. Now, they treat me like one of the boys,” she said.

She admitted that it was harder to operate a tow truck because of the need to manoeuvre it without damaging vehicles being towed.

“It takes skill, especially when we are towing multipurpose vehicles as they are big and heavy.

“Penang roads are narrow and it is a workout for me to repeatedly turn the steering wheel.

“I almost gave up, but then realised with practice, I could build my skills,” she said.

She is not the only woman dealing with large vehicles in Penang.

Alisa Ali, 42, is the depot head of Rapid Penang on the mainland, and has been in the company for 17 years.

“I do believe it is a man’s job and I know being the only woman handling 100 buses is no joke.

“There are 235 people with various temperaments reporting to me and most of them are older than me.

“I have to work with technicians. When there is a problem, I grab a spanner and say, ‘let’s fix it together’.

“Whether they like me or not, we have to work together as I need the buses running,” she said.

She said her days were largely spent walking around the depot, checking on buses that need to be fixed, and speaking to drivers about their woes.

“I do look a bit on the ‘rough’ side, but I am a softie and having lost drivers to accidents, I worry for their well being,” she said.

Alisa said despite the work seeming like a man’s job, she felt that her gentleness and sense of humour helped.

“I usually crack jokes and lighten the moment.

“I now realise being on the ground is my calling and I cannot see myself doing anything else,” she added.