I WRITE as a Malaysian wife and mother who is deeply disappointed by a recent experience that highlights how self-employed citizens, especially those in the gig economy, are too often overlooked and misunderstood.
My husband has been a full-time e-hailing driver since 2020. He owns and maintains his vehicle, files taxes, contributes to PERKESO (Socso) and holds an active insurance policy. But when we applied for a tourist visa for a short holiday abroad with our six-year-old daughter, his application was rejected.
