It’s definitely not easy to leave after spending a great deal of time at a particular place. The longer and the more meaningful the place is, the more sweet memories are likely to be created there.
For a Mamak worker in Penang, the time has come for him to return to his homeland in India. But after 20 years spent in Penang, the journey to go back to his family in India is definitely not a walk in the park. The Mamak worker, fondly known as “Ane Basha” by the locals has been flipping roti canai every day at a Mamak restaurant in Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). With a heavy heart, Basha said the time has come for him to leave Malaysia due to his age and the time spent here.
“I like everything here, especially USM. Everyone is nice to me and it’s easy for me to work here,” Basha expressed.
The 51-year-old man also revealed that throughout the 2 decades, he has never left Penang or visited other states for a vacation, not even as far as to the beach.
“I was here to work. I rarely took a day off. I help my friends at another restaurant in Seberang Jaya on my day off,” he admitted.
The workaholic Basha said that during the pandemic, he spent his time helping at another restaurant in Seberang Jaya. On a good day, it’s common for Basha to flip up to 800 pieces of Roti Canai per day.
When asked about his fondest memories here, Basha had nothing to share but about the people in USM. The time spent here had allowed him to memorise the orders for some of the people there.
“Some like the bread to be flat, thin, thick, banjir. I know because I’ve been working here the longest. It definitely means a lot to me.”
Basha has been in Malaysia since 2001, and all this while, he has only been back to India 3 times. But it broke his heart when he couldn’t be back to visit his mom who passed away due to the Covid-19 virus. As for his future, Basha revealed that he’s going to run his own restaurant in India, very much like his workplace. You can read Basha’s story on the official website of USM.
Thank you for your service here, Ane Basha! We’re sure the folks in Penang and USM will definitely miss you when you’re gone. Fellow Malaysians, where is your favorite, must-visit Mamak restaurant?
Also read: M’sian Writes Love Letter to Mamak Restaurants & Shares Why He is Always in Love With Them
