The 40-year-old’s stall was popular, offering plates with three dishes for as low as RM7.50.

It brought in about RM150 on a good day, just enough to support her family of five, including her husband who helped at the stall, mother and two children aged 23 and 17.

However, tragedy struck in August when she was hit by a car while riding pillion on a motorcycle with her husband near a petrol station.

The accident left her bedridden for three months with a knee and hip injury. Her family struggled with no income during that period, and even though friends and relatives stepped in with handouts, it wasn’t enough.

Vijayaletchime then learnt from a friend that she might be covered by the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) under its Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS). When she checked, she found she was indeed registered.

“I did not sign up for anything with Perkeso, but was surprised to know that our MP Steven Sim had signed up all food traders in Bukit Mertajam (licensed by the Seberang Perai City Council) under the scheme for free,” she told reporters.

Thanks to the coverage, Vijayaletchime received RM13,354.29 in benefits, in lieu of three months’ medical leave.

The Bukit Mertajam MP, who is also the human resources minister, had also personally covered the RM70 annual contribution for some 3,000 traders this year.

“This is the second year I am doing this. I renewed 1,976 contributions this month, while 205 others opted to pay the RM70 on their own,” he said while visiting Vijayaletchime at her home in Machang Bubok today.

Perkeso’s figures show 60,467 contributors under the scheme as of May 31.

Sim urged more self-employed individuals, part-timers and hawkers to sign up, calling it an important safety net when the unexpected happens.