A Bangladeshi worker who had gone three months without receiving his salary touched the hearts of Malaysians after he insisted on giving a ride hailing driver an RM5 tip despite his own financial struggles.
The driver, known as @abang_stereng on Threads, said he recently picked up the passenger from Subang Bistari and drove him to Old Klang Road.
Carried his belongings to a friend’s home
According to the driver, the passenger was carrying two large bags and a table fan.
Throughout the approximately 40 minute journey, the man remained quiet and appeared lost in thought.
When the driver asked where he was going, the passenger smiled and explained that his employer had not paid him for three months and had since left.
With no income and nowhere else to stay, the worker was moving into a friend’s home temporarily.
He also hoped to find tiling work at a condominium construction site nearby.
Survived with help from friends
The driver then asked how the worker had managed to survive without being paid for the past three months.
The passenger said he had been relying entirely on his friends, who would buy eggs for him to cook whenever he needed food.
Despite what he was going through, the worker reportedly remained calm and continued smiling as he spoke about his situation.
Insisted on giving driver RM5 tip
The moment that affected the driver most happened at the end of the journey.
After the passenger paid, the driver tried to return RM5 in change, but the passenger refused to accept it.
Instead, he smiled and told the driver to keep the money as a tip.
He also asked the driver to pray for him and hoped that everything would go smoothly.
I was really shocked because he was facing his own difficulties and had not received his salary for three months, yet he was still willing to give to someone else,” the driver wrote.
The post has since gained attention online, with many netizens praising the worker for remaining kind and hopeful despite his circumstances.
One netizen said people who continued to hold on to their faith and strength during difficult times deserved respect.
Another called on employers to treat foreign workers fairly, noting that many of them had left their families and travelled far from home simply to earn a living and support their loved ones.
