A Malaysian delivery rider was recently left frustrated after a customer allegedly misled him regarding a delivery item that turned out to be non-halal meat.
In a post on Threads, user @afiqdxnial recounted how he picked up an order at Pudu, where the customer initially claimed over the phone that the item was just “vegetables”.
“You don’t need to know”
According to the Muslim rider, the customer asked to meet near a neighboring shop lot, making it impossible to tell what kind of store or stall the item originated from. Upon arriving, the customer quickly placed the item inside the rider’s delivery bag.
Noticing that the bag felt unusually heavy for a parcel of vegetables, the rider inquired further. The customer then admitted it was meat, but when pressed on what kind, replied, “Oh, you don’t need to know.“
Suspicious of the vague response, the rider insisted on an answer, after which the customer finally confessed that it was pork.
Feeling misled and upset, the rider immediately canceled the order on the spot, citing that the item contained pork.
Forced to halt work to perform ritual cleansing
Because the non-halal item had been placed inside his delivery thermal bag, the rider had no choice but to head back to Petaling Jaya empty-handed to clean his equipment.
Speaking to WORLD OF BUZZ, the rider explained that he had to perform the sertu process, which is a purification process for najis mughallazah, referring to impurities from dogs and pigs, by washing the affected area seven times, one of which must be with water mixed with soil.
“The sertu process took around 15 to 20 minutes because I had to wash the whole bag.
“It was a loss for me because I needed to go home, wash my bag, and wait for it to dry before I could resume delivery jobs,” he said.
He added that continuing to take orders without cleansing the bag would risk contaminating future customers’ items, making it essential to address the issue immediately.
A plea for mutual respect and understanding
The rider urged customers of all backgrounds to be mindful of religious dietary restrictions regarding pork and alcohol, noting that while finding riders can sometimes be difficult, honesty is crucial.
“Muslims have strict laws regarding handling alcohol and pork. It can’t simply be handled, and if it can be avoided, it must be avoided at all costs.
“I know customers also have a hard time finding riders, but please don’t do this,” he shared with WORLD OF BUZZ.
He also reminded fellow Muslim riders to uphold strict standards in their daily work to maintain respect and integrity within the community.
How do you think delivery riders can be better protected in situations like this? Let us know in the comments!
