At 71 years old, Zakaria Abdul Wahab still spends his days riding through the streets of Malaysia delivering food orders for customers. Known by many as “Atok Grab,” the elderly rider continues working to support his family despite his age and health risks.
Zakaria joined the Grab delivery platform in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, he has continued working as a food delivery rider in Kuala Lumpur. He said the job was easier and more flexible compared with other forms of work.
“Sistem Grab ini mudah,” Zakaria told local media, explaining that riders only need to accept and deliver orders. He said even older people could learn the system without much difficulty.
Supporting His Family
Although he is already a senior citizen, Zakaria still carries major family responsibilities. His eldest son, who is 39 years old, suffered a stroke about nine months ago and can no longer work.
Before falling ill, his son was also working as a Grab rider and helped support the family financially. Zakaria said the situation forced him to continue working because daily expenses had become more expensive.
He explained that staying at home was not possible because he still needed to support his wife and children while also paying for his son’s medical treatment.
Surviving A Serious Accident
A few years ago, Zakaria was involved in a dangerous road accident with a 10-wheel lorry. His motorcycle was badly damaged, but he survived the crash.
Today, he continues working using an old motorcycle. Despite the risks, he still rides daily depending on the weather and customer demand.
On good days, Zakaria said he can complete up to 20 deliveries and earn more than RM100 (about SGD30), including customer tips. However, he admitted he no longer has the strength to work from morning until late at night.
Continuing Life On The Road
Zakaria said he believes there is no shame in doing honest work, regardless of age. He added that working also helps him stay active instead of spending all his time at home.
The elderly rider also hopes that financial assistance for older workers can become easier to access, especially for senior citizens who are still working to support their families.
Zakaria’s story recently became widely known on social media after many people were touched by his determination to continue working at the age of 71.
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