Trishaw cycling has existed in Perak for more than a hundred years but the industry is gradually becoming a thing of the past.

There are only four trishaws left in Teluk Intan today, and the only remaining Chinese tricyclist, Li Qi Ren, said he was the last remaining tricyclist in town.

Poor income and lack of new blood

71-year-old Li, who has been cycling in Teluk Intan for more than 30 years, told Sin Chew Daily trishaw services would inevitably become history in a couple of years.

"Currently there are only four trishaws in Teluk Intan still in operation. I am the only Chinese cyclist while the other three are Malays. Among the four of us, three are more than 70 years old and the remaining one is over 60 today."

Sitting on his own trishaw waiting for customers at the main market in town, Li recalled that during the heyday of trishaws, there were more than 300 in Teluk Intan alone.

With the emergence of newer modes of transport such as bicycles during the earlier years, followed by motorcycles and all-popular motorcars in this modern age, trishaws have gradually declined in number and faded into oblivion in the memories of townspeople.

Lack of support from tourism industry

There are only four trishaws today to support the whole trishaw industry in Teluk Intan. Furthermore, the industry lacks the support from the tourism industry, and its extinction appears to be inevitable.

Due to his advancing age, Li can only provide his services during the morning hour for RM2 to RM6 each trip. His monthly income is only about RM300, and most of his customers are elderly people.

The main reason why there is no new blood to join this industry is the pathetic incomse of a trishaw cyclist. The Trishaw Association of Teluk Intan, which used to have almost a hundred members during its prime, was automatically dissolved not too long ago.

Li said he had to apply to the municipal council for the licence to operate his trisha annually at a fee of RM18.50. According to him, no new permits have been issued by the municipal council during the last few years.

76-year-old tricyclist

Elias, 76, has also been working as a trishaw cyclist in Teluk Intan for more than 30 years.

He said, when there were more than a hundred trishaw cyclists in town during those days, 60% of them were Chinese while the Malays made up the remaining 40%, with only two or three Indian cyclists. Today, most of the trishaws handed down by the cyclists who have retired or passed away have been acquired by the public as collection items.

Evolution of trishaws

Trishaw has more than 200 years of history in Perak. It was believed that the earliest vehicles were pulled by horses and was used to transport people and goods. The Hokkiens and Teochewnese called them "horse carriages."

The later trishaws were pulled by men in front of them, with the customers sitting at the back. The Hokkiens and Tieochewnese later called them "human carts" (lang chia).

The Malays have been using the same name beca (from the Hokkien pronunciation of "horse carriage") until this day. Influenced by the Hokkiens and Tieochewnese, the Cantonese have since called this mode of transport lam che.

The old model later gave way to what we see today, where the cyclist is cycling his customers who are sitting in front of him.

Today, trishaws are rarely seen in Perak, as there are only four in Teluk Intan and one or two in Ipoh. (Translated by LIM LIY EE/Sin Chew Daily)