But in Penang, 72-year-old Robert Cheah is taking everything in stride, showing up for work, Mondays to Fridays, like clockwork to sell breads and pastries to his loyal clientele.

Despite having only one leg, Cheah, or Uncle Robert to his many customers and friends, refuses to let his disability stop him from earning a living during these dark times.

FMT learnt that Uncle Robert initially sold parking coupons to earn a living but when the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) digitalised their system, he had to find another source of income.

He dabbled for a while in selling curry puffs but discovered soon enough that people weren’t keen to eat them on a daily basis, so sales were limited.

“A church member suggested I approach the Adventist Bakery to source pastries and try my hand at selling them.

“I approached the bakery and they agreed,” he tells FMT, adding that he is grateful to the management of SENTRAL College Penang for providing him with a table and chair and allowing him to operate his business right outside the college.

“Every day the guard helps by setting up the booth for me and once I’m done, he helps me put it away,” he says.

Despite the gloomy economic times and his disability, Uncle Robert remains upbeat and happily chats with customers who drop by to purchase his pastries.

Once done for the day, he goes the extra mile to deliver orders to customers who are unable to visit his stall.

He said his customers come from a wide range of backgrounds – college students, lecturers, administrative staff and those working at nearby banks and offices.

Recently, an internet user posted a picture of Uncle Robert and his delicious pastries on social media and more customers began reaching out, wanting to purchase bread and pastries from him.

Uncle Robert offers a wide range of baked goods, including cinnamon rolls, egg tarts, butter cakes, pandan kaya tarts, three different types of bread and even oats by the kilo.

“The butter cake is very nice. As for the bread, there are three types, whole meal, seven-seed and three-seed bread. The seven-seed and three-seed bread do not have any flour in them.

“There are two types of cinnamon rolls, the original with raisins and another with nuts. The egg tarts and pandan kaya tarts are also popular with my customers.”

He says most days, the bakery is kind enough to deliver the breads and pastries to him. But when they are short-handed, he makes the journey himself to collect the stock on his four-wheeled motorcycle.

“I do this in order to keep myself mentally and physically active. Plus, if I stay at home, there is constant expenditure and no incoming cash.

“It also helps polish my mind and reflexes because I have to use my brain to calculate when the customers buy bread from me.”

So, if you happen to find yourself in the area, why not stop and say “Hi” to Uncle Robert and pick up some delicious pastries?

Orders can be placed two days in advance by dropping him a line at (013) 489 4808.

Uncle Robert sells his breads and pastries right outside SENTRAL College Penang from 10.30am to 2pm, Monday to Friday.