Melaka Cobbler Tweets Ismail Sabri A Heartfelt Request To Let Them Operate

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26-year-old Abdul Ghafur shared his woes on Twitter by tweeting at Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Sunday, 4 July.

In his tweet, Abdul Ghafur politely addressed the issues that many small business owners are facing, especially cobblers, due to the prolonged lockdown restrictions.

"Below are the pictures of the typical works that I do. I changed the insoles to leather and cleaned the linings a bit. It took me nearly 2 hours to fix 1 pair and costs RM20 only sir," he tweeted.

Abdul Ghafur said the point of his tweet is that he hopes Ismail Sabri can adjust the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to allow all cobblers to operate during lockdown.

He added, "Cobblers are not acknowledged by basically any authorities, like the government itself. But we are sort of essential for every human being who wearing shoes."

Abdul Ghafur said that during his two-year operation, he never got more than 10 customers a day. He believes that because of this, cobblers are at low risk of spreading COVID-19.

He told Ismail Sabri that he is at the edge of closing down his shop at Dataran Pahlawan, Melaka by next month. "If the lockdown continues for too long, I don't think I'll be the only one," he said.

Abdul Ghafur also tweeted that he was not eligible for any of the Prihatin Special Grants (GKP) offered by the government.

He ended his Twitter thread by saying that he is aware his tweets would not reach Ismail Sabri but that is why he is tweeting it.

"Well, what else can a cobbler like me do, sir? Thanks and much love xx."

When SAYS reached out to Abdul Ghafur, he said that he has not been able to manage the business during the prolonged lockdown phases and has only been finishing up older works at times.

"I just wish the process of recovering Malaysia moves faster. Because that's the last faith I have," he told SAYS.

Abdul Ghafur has been working as a cobbler for nine years, and is currently running Kelinik Kasot at Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall.

A user tweeted, "My God! This morning my thoughts were centered around my cobbler and I was concerned about how he was surviving. Please let them work. Please."

"To be honest, the price is really cheap. Service (five stars) I've sent my shoes for repair countless times. He added soles and sew the straps of my favourite bag even though the bag is cheap. Neat and thorough work," a netizen praised.

Another netizen said, "I'm impressed and touched as well. Such a sincere appeal tweeted to [Ismail Sabri]. Light hearted and jestful but I hope it drives home some significant messages to you, Mr. Authority — master of SOP. It pains us how people have to get by with their skills and yet slighted during this condition."