K Thirukumaran used to be an auditor and accountant, but when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, his employer could no longer afford to pay his salary regularly.

So the 28-year-old took a leap of faith to start selling fruits for a living, and the move has paid him well thus far, reported theSun.

Thirukumaran told the daily that his day typically starts at 5.30am, when he leaves his home in Sungai Besi for Chow Kit to pick up his supply of fruits from a wholesaler. He then heads to Bandar Seri Permaisuri in Cheras to catch the morning crowd by 9.30am. He also sometimes sets up stall in Sungai Besi.

He only ends his day about 7.30pm or 8pm daily, depending on how good business is, for the day.

"I made about RM3,500 in my first month in business, which is RM1,000 more than what I used to earn in the accounting firm where I worked.

"It was a difficult decision to make. I was giving up a stable job for an unpredictable venture," he said.

According to Thirukumaran, he was pushed to take the leap when his employer told him and his colleagues to either clear their annual leave or take unpaid leave.

When he quit his job in July to become a fruit seller, he did not initially get the support he needed from friends and family, but he stood by his decision nonetheless.

Thirukumaran utilizes the social media, including Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram to advertise his business, and he delivers the orders received using Grab. He has even formally registered his business as TK Fruits.

Thirukumaran is among the many people who have turned to opening their own businesses after either quitting their jobs, or after being retrenched, to survive the economic fallout of the pandemic.

Although many are stall or pick-up truck parked at the roadside based, these enterprising have thrived nonetheless, as come pandemic or not, people do not stop eating.

Impressive move indeed Thirukumaran. Let's hope there are more youths like him today, who think of enterprising instead of waiting for opportunities to fall on their laps, when the going gets tough.


Source & Photo source: The Sun