For visually impaired musicians with disabilities, busking is more than an avenue to showcase their talents. It is also a source of income that enables them to support themselves and their families independently. However, behind the melodies that entertain the public, securing a performance space, even a small corner, is becoming increasingly challenging. This has left them grappling with uncertain earnings and the struggle to make ends meet, as explored in Part Two.
KUALA LUMPUR: For almost five years, Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations served as the main source of livelihood for Rodie Jainahum and his visually impaired wife, until their opportunity to perform at these locations came to an end in 2022.
For the Semporna-born Sabah native, losing the performance venues on which they had relied almost daily not only affected their monthly income of up to RM1,500 but also forced them to seek alternative locations to sustain their family.
The situation left the couple in a dilemma, as their busking schedule had previously included at least one public transport station almost every day. Rodie had been performing individually since 2005.
“From Monday to Saturday, I used to depend on performances at LRT stations. For example, Bangsar LRT station is very close to our home, just within walking distance. Most importantly, we did not have to worry about getting caught in the rain or being exposed to the heat,” he told Bernama recently.
Rodie said the opportunity ended after his account on the Buddey Talent application, a platform connecting street musicians and performing artistes with performance venues, was suspended.
Realising the implications, he repeatedly contacted the platform operator seeking an explanation, but has yet to receive any response.
The father of three can now perform only about three times a week at two restaurants and a location in Bangsar, which he said had received permission from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
The challenges extend beyond securing performance spaces, as transportation costs also eat into his earnings. He has to rely on e-hailing services to transport his numerous and heavy musical equipment to performance venues.
Although persons with disabilities (PwD) are entitled to free public transport, Rodie finds it difficult to benefit from the facility because he has to carry more than 150 kilogrammes (kg) of musical equipment.
“Public transport is indeed free for persons with disabilities. But for visually impaired people, carrying dozens of kg of musical equipment, navigating in and out of stations and changing trains are no easy tasks. We have no choice but to use e-hailing services, even though the costs are exorbitant,” he said, adding that a return trip from Bangsar to Shah Alam could cost between RM80 and RM100 a day.
Consequently, of the approximately RM1,500 he earns monthly, including RM450 in assistance from the Social Welfare Department (JKM), only about RM400 remains after deducting RM200 for rent, RM600 for e-hailing services and RM300 set aside for musical equipment maintenance.
“I am sharing my experience not to seek anyone’s sympathy. This is the only job I enjoy and am capable of doing, from my younger days until old age. Even though my net balance is only RM400 and the challenges are getting tougher, I have to persevere and carry on for the sake of my family’s livelihood,” he said.
Rodie’s experience reflects the broader challenges faced by visually impaired musicians in securing consistent performance opportunities and turning their talents into a sustainable source of income.
As such, they are placing their hopes on government efforts to create more opportunities for the community, particularly by facilitating their performances and helping them earn a living.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil was previously reported as saying that he would discuss with his ministry’s secretary-general, Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, the opportunities that could be extended to the group.
Among the matters to be brought to the attention of the ministry and relevant agencies are efforts to facilitate permits or approvals for visually impaired musicians to conduct busking, karaoke and singing activities, as well as applications for funding and financial assistance.
Hoping that the Communications Ministry’s initiatives will bring a glimmer of hope, Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) chief executive officer Datuk George Thomas said access to performance venues remained a major challenge, although the process of obtaining permits from DBKL had become easier for visually impaired musicians registered with the Malaysian Artistes’ Association (Karyawan).
He said suitable performance locations near their homes remained difficult to secure, while travelling longer distances increased the transportation costs borne by the musicians.
“Visually impaired buskers who perform on an ad hoc basis may not enjoy the same level of consistency in securing performance spaces as those with regular engagements. MAB is working to address this gap so that performance opportunities can be coordinated in a more systematic and inclusive manner,” he said.
He said MAB would continue to act as an intermediary between government agencies, local authorities and licence holders, while expanding cooperation with local authorities to help provide more accessible and consistent performance opportunities for visually impaired musicians.
Meanwhile, Karyawan president Datuk Freddie Fernandez said the association was working with DBKL to help visually impaired street musicians obtain permits and secure performance venues. This included allowing them to sing to recorded backing music without having to play musical instruments themselves.
He said Karyawan had also held discussions with DBKL and MAB to assist musicians who relied on street performances for their livelihood. The association also offered free membership to the group, with about 70 visually impaired street musicians registered to date.
On transportation costs, Freddie said using e-hailing services to reach distant performance venues could affect the earnings of visually impaired street musicians, although the issue had yet to be brought to Karyawan’s attention.
He added that the association was also offering free membership to the group, while a proposal to organise training programmes with MAB remained under discussion due to financial and resource constraints.