PETALING JAYA, Sept 4 — Sheltering wherever they can from the scorching sun and rain, or seeking refuge at mosques and eateries, has long been part of the daily reality for product-hailing (p-hailing) riders waiting for their next order.
But the introduction of TEDUH centres — short for Tempat Elok Dikhaskan Untuk Hentian — now gives riders a dedicated place to rest, eat and attend to other needs before getting back on the road.
For Muhammad Zariff Haiqal Mohd Fadzil, 30, who has worked as a p-hailing rider for seven years, one recurring challenge has been finding a suitable place to eat food brought from home.
“Sometimes I eat at a bus stop. If I sit at someone’s eatery without ordering anything, it feels impolite.
“Now that there is a dedicated place like TEDUH, I know I can come here when it is time to eat. For me, this initiative is very good and practical,” he said.
Zariff, who frequently picks up orders around SS2 and Kelana Jaya, said the facility also provides riders with a more comfortable place to perform their prayers.
His sentiments were echoed by Muhammad Zulkiffli Abdul Aziz, 33, who has worked as a p-hailing rider around Petaling Jaya for three years.
He said unpredictable weather was among the daily challenges that forced riders to find suitable places to stop and take a break.
“With this pit stop, riders have a dedicated place and we feel appreciated. If more could be set up elsewhere, it would make things easier for many more riders,” he said.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Haiqal Haffez Tarmizi, 23, said facilities such as fans and phone charging points were among the features he appreciated at the TEDUH centre.
The p-hailing rider, who has worked around the Klang Valley for about a year and a half, said he previously had to find any available covered or shaded area after completing a delivery.
“After making a delivery, if I want to look for another order and there is no place like this, I just squeeze into whatever shaded or covered spot I can find to get out of the sun.
“Now that we have a place like this, I can come here and rest. There are fans and phone chargers, which really makes things much easier for riders like us,” he said.
Haiqal hoped more TEDUH centres would be established in other locations so that more p-hailing riders could benefit from the facilities while also having a place to meet fellow riders.
He said having more locations would also raise awareness among p-hailing riders about the availability of such facilities.
The TEDUH @ MBPJ centre in SS2 was officially opened by Innovation and Modernisation Exco Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah yesterday morning.
First introduced on September 25 last year, the TEDUH project provides safe rest areas for p-hailing riders after completing deliveries or while waiting for orders.
The facilities are now available across all 12 local authorities in Selangor.
