A business owner from Malaysia who used to own a successful food delivery service is now a food rider on his own after his business failed. Now, turning points in his life have been years since he started his company that was once making millions of dollars in revenue with thousands of riders.
In October 2019, Indera Aria Wee Jeeny, 40, began an online food ordering and delivery service. Coming from a modest background, he worked hard to grow the business across several Malaysian states. At its peak, the company reportedly earned up to RM6 million (about S$1.81 million) in profits and had around 3,000 active food riders operating in Kelantan, Terengganu, and Kedah.
Rapid Business Decline
According to Indera, the company remained a strategic partner under the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation. However, problems began when an internet protocol address was allegedly sold by an individual to a competing company for personal gain.
He said the business started losing momentum in early 2021. Monthly profits reportedly dropped to between RM40,000 and RM80,000 (about S$12,100 to S$24,200). When the money began to run low, Indera was compelled to sell his assets to pay the employees’ salaries. The downturn eventually led to the collapse of the business he had spent years building.
Difficult Times After Collapse
The father of two said the experience changed his life completely. There were times when he struggled to afford basic necessities and had to search for loose coins just to buy food. Not having a car made him take many walks to get where he needed to go.
He also saw shifts in his relationships at the time. As his money worries grew, many of his near and dear ones left him. Although he didn’t enjoy it, he was slowly taking the news and trying to get his head around it.
Finding Hope Again
Indera said he found encouragement through the words of a former employee. He recalled a food rider who felt grateful despite earning only RM20 (about S$6) because it allowed him to buy food for his child.
Nowadays, Indera rides solo as a food rider and is also able to assist individuals in buying the goods for service fees from RM5 to RM10 (S$1.50 to S$3). He is still working on his life and hopes to be an entrepreneur once again and generate more jobs in the future.
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