Rickshaws in Singapore, Penang, Kuala lumpur

Colonials on a rickshaw-photograph taken in a studio in Singapore ( Raffles Hotel Museum)

Jinrikisha ( Rickshaw) Station at the junction of Maxwell Road, Singapore

A history board of the existence of Rickshaws

The Rickshaw Depot in Singapore ( 1903)

It was a poor old Chinaman

That dragged a rickshaw means,

He was not great, he was not wise,

Nor very, very clean,

But he was honester by far

Than many men I have seen.

And Oh! It was a soldier bold,

Who cursed the waning light,

And did beseech he might be blowed

Particularly tight

If that poor rickshaw man refused

To take him home that night.

The rickshaw man did do his best,

He limped, he hopped, he ran,

The soldier angrily did cursed

That poor old Chinaman;

“When will I reach Tanglin like this,

You d-----d old Chinaman?”

At last they reached the barracks far,

The Chinaman is glad,

But lo! The soldier gives no fare,

But swears at him like mad.

In fear the rickshaw man retreats,

His heart is very sad.

O! Intellectual Gentleman,

Please tell me if you can,

To drag a rickshaw or to steal

Which is the wisest plan?

- Singapore Jottings by D.I.N. 1885

After reading this poem in a book, I thought a spotlight on the Rickshaw man in Malaya and the Straits Settlements ( SS) would a befitting gesture to the poor migrants. The rickshaws were prevalent as a cheap mode of transport, but was phased out after the war – ironically with the introduction of the tri-shaws during the Japanese occupation of 1942-1945. Posted above is a history board of the rickshaws.