The pandemic had caused a global economic slump and Malaysia is no exception to this.
It is a no-brainer to say that many Malaysians are not having it easy to bring themselves back to their feet, especially those who lost their jobs in the past couple of years.
GoGet driver Sukral Helmi Abdul Aziz, 44, can tell you all about it.
Before that, what is GoGet? It is a community platform offering productivity and connectivity to part timers and companies in need of manpower.
With 450,000 users and more than 50,000 verified part timers today, the application has helped Sukral regain his income after he was dismissed from his job as an IT manager for a company based in Kuala Lumpur, during the pandemic.
He said it was a tough time for him as it affected his earnings and his commitment as the breadwinner of his family.
However, being introduced to the GoGet platgorm from his friends earlier this year has given him an opportunity for a new beginning.
Admitting that his first job for GoGet is quite difficult since he has zero experience in the field, he said that started to change after a week in because he got used to the job and it pays well.
There are a variety of services users can choose from the application including delivery, dispatch, as well as jobs for restaurants, warehouses and many others.
He said it is also commonly used in big cities like Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Penang.
As for him, he has been using GoGet since six months ago, delivering food as well as parcels to customers in the Klang Valley and Selangor area.
When asked about the pandemic situation getting better now and why he sticks to GoGet, he said it is because of the good pay and its payment system.
"It has given me job opportunities and allows me to earn money to support my family.
"Besides, I think the best thing about GoGet is that they pay me weekly, directly to my bank account so it is assuring to not have to wait for the end of every month to get my payment.
"Honestly, I think this is good for housewives, especially those who love to buy groceries or shopping every week,” he said.
He strongly recommends students to sign up for GoGet if they wish to earn extra pocket money.
Sukral, who has benefitted from the i-Sinar programme introduced by the government two years ago for Budget 2021 said he feels grateful to be able to allocate part of his earnings into his savings.
Having taken out a portion of his savings from his EPF account, througho GoGet, Sukral said he is able to replenish the savings.
Sukral said the i-Sinar programme had helped him tremendously to get by, as he had a family to support.
"Due to the pandemic, many lost their jobs and some even lost their family members. Through Goget, it has helped me to rebuild my career and grow further.
With the tabling of Budget 2023 fast approaching, Sukral said he hopes the government will look into food security, and addressing the rising cost of living that has affected all classes of society, especially the B40 and M40 category.
"I also hope that Budget 2023 will provide better incentives for those working in the gig economy, like myself," he added.