KOTA KINABALU: Unruly blades of grass and thick bushes have become a tourist guide's new source of income after he was rendered jobless for months by the closure of Sabah's borders following the Covid-19 pandemic.
An internationally certified tour guide, Ansari B. A. Angkangon had tried his hand at doing various things to make ends meet, until he realised grass cutting could be a sustainable means to put food on the table.
The 33-year-old said the financial aid he received under the Bantuan Prihatin Nasional (BPN) initiative, coupled with help from the state government, allowed him to set up his new business in the middle of the year.
"I had even tried selling vegetables and chickens sourced from Tambunan in April, but the logistical cost (to send the supplies) to Kota Kinabalu, which is about two hours away, is just too costly.
"After receiving the aid, I bought a grasscutter for my family's personal use.
"Then I thought of providing grass-cutting service in the neighbourhood where I live. The business started well and the income helps support my family," he told the New Straits Times recently.
As a certified guide since 2012, Ansari had help many European tourists to explore Sabah.
He was also the recipient of the Audley Guide Awards in Singapore two years ago and India last year.
The awards ceremony is held annually in Asia by the United Kingdom-based Audley Travel Company to acknowledge the achievements of their hand-picked local guides.
To further promote his new business, Ansari set up the "Potong Rumput Kawasan Kota Kinabalu" Facebook page and was surprised by the positive response from his family and friends.
His grass-cutting service fee starts at RM10, depending on the area and additional services required by clients.
"Compared with my salary as a tour guide, I am only earning between 30 and 40 per cent from the grass-cutting business. Not much, but it is better than nothing.
"If there is an opportunity in future, I will return to work as a tour guide. But for now, I'll stick to cutting grass to support my family."
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