Former Malaysian pilot Azrin Mohamad Zawawi prepares food at his stand in Subang Jaya
Subang Jaya:
Every morning Malaysian pilot Azrin Mohamad Zawawi dons his white uniform and black captain’s cap before heading to work.
But rather than go to the airport, as he has been doing for two decades, he heads to a small noodle stand he now runs in a suburb just outside the capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Azrin, 44, is among thousands of employees who lost their jobs after airlines were stranded by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I need an income because I was made redundant by my old company,” said Azrin, whose last employer, Malindo Air, was forced to downsize this month.
Deprived of a regular income, the father of four decided to start a food business, selling Malaysian dishes like a curry noodle dish made from a family recipe, laksa, and a mixed fruit dish called rojak.
His business saw an unexpected wave of publicity when a photo of Azrin wearing his captain’s uniform with a red apron taken by his wife and posted on social media went viral.
Still, customers say the company, aptly named “Kapten Corner” (“Captain’s Corner”), is more than just a gadget.
“The main thing is that the food is good… I ate here twice. The first time I brought my wife and now I bring my friends,” said customer Azman Yunus.
Another client, Syed Khadzil, also praised Azrin for finding a creative way to run a food business.
“The way he does business is also unique – to be creative with his uniform. He’s a crowd shooter,” said Syed.
For her part, Azrin hopes her experience can inspire others affected by the pandemic to try new ways of making a living.
“Take up the challenge and never give up… It’s like flying a plane, we always move forward,” he said.
(Except for the title, this story was not edited by GalacticGaming staff and is posted from a syndicated feed.)
