For Kesavan Kanaisan – or Philip, as he is fondly called by his customers – his second job of the day is just about to begin.
Parking on an uneven kerb by the street, he begins unloading wares from a box atop his motorcycle. Soon the fragrant aroma of putu mayam and curry puffs wafts through the air.
Just a few hours ago, Philip was at his other job as a telephone operator. Despite having worked through the night, he shows little signs of weariness as he honks his handheld horn and sells kuih to passersby.
Rain soon falls, and he has to head to a shadier spot. It’s one of the challenges of an already challenging job. But it’s all in a day’s work for Philip, who dreams of creating a better life for his wife and 11-year-old daughter.
“My customers say it’s nice. My putu mayam is OK, all my kuih is very nice. That’s why people come looking for me all the time,” Philip, 46, told FMT cheerfully.
“Some have tried my kuih once, others many times… even the doctors nearby call me to prepare curry puffs for them to pick up later.”
This amiable man and his motorbike are a familiar sight for folks in the area, where he has been active for the last two decades.
While speaking with FMT, many customers call Philip by name and engage in small talk as they purchase their favourite snacks, be it putu mayam pau, putu bambu, vadai, potato curry puffs, or greenpea or tapioca kuih.
His prices range from RM1 to RM1.50 per piece.
Given his demeanour, one might be surprised to learn the last few years haven’t been smooth-sailing for the enterprising snack seller. In 2005, Philip was involved in a road accident, which caused him to lose vision in one eye while sustaining injuries to his right ear, arm and leg.
Last year, he was involved in a hit-and-run that left him badly injured in the right leg and left arm.
He now identifies as a person with a disability (OKU) – but this has not stopped him from resolutely heading out to work every day.
“I’m working all the time… only if I’m very tired, or if my wife says she needs me to go to the supermarket [or run other errands], that’s the only time I take off.”
Philip’s day starts at 12.30am, when he clocks in at an oil and gas company, until 8.30am. Once his shift is complete, he heads home to help his young daughter prepare for school.
After that, he gets some well-deserved rest until the afternoon. Then it’s off to Taman Megah to pick up the kuih prepared by his friends.
From 3-7pm, it’s time to sell: on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, you can buy kuih from Philip in the area outside the Subang Jaya Medical Centre in SS12. On other days, he can be found outside the Magnum 4D branch in SS15.
Business is doing all right, Philip shared. Despite it being the fasting month, many people still buy his snacks to enjoy at home.
Sometimes, other factors – such as today’s rain – mean he has to work longer hours as there are fewer people around.
On occasion, he is unable to finish selling his daily stock of about 110 pieces of kuih. Ever perseverant, Philip does not give up; instead, he tries selling the remainder to patrons at nearby restaurants.
“I try to finish all the time as I don’t like to take things home,” he said, adding: “If I finish selling, it’s thanks to God.”
Working two jobs can be exhausting but Philip is used to it by now, and he is bent on doing what it takes to ensure his family has a strong financial foundation.
“This is my emergency money. When I get my salary, I can use it on the house,” Philip said, referring to his home in the Sunway area.
“I have a wife and daughter now. When we need money, I can get it on my own. I don’t need to turn to other people and ask them for help,” he concluded gratefully.