People who used to live comfortably now struggle to get by, worrying about where their next meal will come from, if at all.
Others have simply given up hope for a better future, beaten down as they are by their present reality.
One such person is Endang Hyder, 35, a single mother of three who lives with her parents in Kampar.
A professional violinist, Endang has been finding it next to impossible to earn a living during the many Covid-19 lockdowns since live performances are prohibited.
Endang used to perform all over the world but these days, she can only post her performances of modern songs and classics on YouTube, hoping listeners will leave her a tip.
Last year, she made headlines when she was forced to sell one of her most loved violins to settle the medical bills of her double-amputee father.
Despite the outpouring of public sympathy, Endang’s financial woes have continued because the lockdowns lasted longer than she anticipated.
“My family used to live comfortably before the first lockdown. Back then, I was also a public performer,” she tells FMT, explaining that it was common for her to perform in as many as 10-12 events every month.
But the pandemic changed all that,and before long, Endang was digging into her savings to keep her family afloat. Still, she remained optimistic and was prepared to sit out the lockdowns for the next three to four months.
In a matter of weeks though, her savings were almost depleted due to her parents’ mounting medical bills coupled with regular household expenses.
When almost all of her 42 violin students dropped out, leaving only six behind, she resorted to drastic means to make some money – she sold her clothes, her computer and even her mobile phone.
The most heartbreaking for Endang was when she had to sell one of her violins, despite having worked multiple jobs to buy it in 2001.
“People were very kind … they were telling me not to sell my violin and were offering to help me in any way,” she recalls, adding that she refused the handouts, insisting that she wanted to work for her money.
But truth be told, the long-drawn-out lockdowns were becoming too tough to handle as she was still unable to earn an income from live performances.
When she hit rock bottom, she sold her iPhone. She even baked cakes, cleaned homes, and at one time, picked fruit.
“If there was any job, I was willing to do it,” she says, adding how grateful she felt when a kind neighbour gave her a new handphone upon hearing about how she had to sell her previous one.
These days, Endang relies mostly on “online busking”, posting her violin performances on YouTube where viewers can leave a tip for her.
Then again, this source of income is inconsistent and she has ended many a day with no money whatsoever having been made.
“This pandemic has taught me a lesson, that it’s okay to settle for less,” she says, adding that many people have slipped through the cracks during this time.
She is also suffering from burnout at the moment, limiting the number of songs she can play in one day. “I really am short on ideas of how to get through tomorrow.”
The future seems bleak for Endang, who is now struggling to get milk for her three children, the eldest of whom is nine, despite reaching out to the White Flag Movement.
So how can the public help support her in her time of need? Watching her YouTube videos, subscribing to her channel and leaving a tip from time to time is good enough, she says.
She also wants to travel to Indonesia where a studio can record two singles for her. “I hope someone can help me go through the proper channels so that I can go to Indonesia and record the songs. That’s what I’m trying to do at the moment.”
If you are able to help Endang, reach out to her through her Twitter handle @EndangHyder or subscribe to her YouTube channel and leave a tip after watching her performance.