George town: Despite the rapid growth of modern transportation and the dominance of e-hailing services, the trishaw continues to strengthen its position as one of Penang's most iconic tourism attractions, offering visitors a unique way to experience the history, culture and heritage of George Town.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, trishaws have evolved from transporting locals into a high-value tourism product, particularly around Armenian Street within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, while continuing to provide a livelihood for riders dedicated to preserving the tradition.
For veteran trishaw rider Chiko, 70, who has been pedaling trishaws for more than four decades, the job is not merely a source of income but a responsibility to ensure that Penang's tourism identity remains alive and appreciated by future generations. The Penang-born Chinese rider speaks 16 languages, including English, French, Arabic, Tamil and Greek, a skill acquired during six years as a seafarer who went around the world before he chose to become a trishaw rider. His multilingual ability enables him to interact with tourists from across the globe while sharing stories behind George Town's heritage buildings, historic streets and rich multicultural heritage that earned the city its UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
"I learned foreign languages to communicate with people while working as a seafarer, and for the past 40 years I have used that ability to attract foreign tourists to ride my trishaw and explore George Town. Most of my customers are foreign tourists who specifically seek the experience of travelling by trishaw to enjoy the atmosphere of the heritage city up close," he told Bernama at Armenian Street here recently.
According to Chiko, the busiest period is when cruise ships dock in Penang, especially towards the end of the year when large numbers of international visitors arrive in the heritage city. Although his income depends entirely on tourist arrivals and is unpredictable, he is grateful to earn between RM80 and RM150 a day on good days.
Fellow trishaw rider, Zaiful Khamis, 33, said that although he typically makes only two or three trips a day, demand for trishaw rides remains encouraging, especially during weekends, school holidays and when cruise ships arrive. He said trishaw operators also receive bookings from tour operators as well as walk-in customers, while licensed riders pay only RM80 a month to rent a trishaw. "We have to comply with road regulations, including avoiding one-way streets, for the safety of our passengers. We also make sure to look after our customers well, including returning any belongings they accidentally leave behind," he said.
Meanwhile, former chef Khoo Keng Boon, 60, took up trishaw riding two years ago after struggling to find employment because of his age. He described the profession as his "last option," but one that still provides him with a source of income. Besides taking tourists to iconic destinations such as Chew Jetty, Little India and George Town's historic waterfront jetties, trishaw riders now also assist visitors by taking photographs and recording videos as an added value to their service. "Although the number of trishaw riders is declining, I believe this heritage vehicle still has a special place in Penang's tourism industry because it offers an experience that modern transportation cannot replace," said Khoo, who earns between RM50 and RM120 a day.
Meanwhile, Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said 92 registered trishaw riders continue to serve as the state's mobile tourism ambassadors. He said each rider receives a monthly allowance of RM200 from the state government to help preserve the traditional mode of transport while encouraging more young people to take up the profession. "As of July this year, all 92 riders are officially registered through the Penang Island City Council's (MBPP) uLesen licensing system, which covers both Trishaw Licences and Trishaw Rider Licences. Trishaws have remained one of Penang's tourism icons since they were introduced in George Town in 1941 and continue to be promoted in Penang Global Tourism's official guidebooks in multiple languages," he said.
Wong added that the state government welcomes cooperation from the private sector, including hotels that help fund trishaw restoration and offer trishaw tour packages to guests in collaboration with the Penang Trishaw Association. He also said trishaw culture has the potential to be recognised as state heritage, given its history dating back to 1941 and its contribution to shaping George Town's tourism identity, adding that trishaws will be featured alongside other cultural elements in this year's National Day Parade.