Her earlier statement, where she alleged that some delivery boys ‘lie about not having change,’ spread precariously across social media, strewn with reactions that ranged from confusion to outright anger.
What began as a small speck of criticism quickly grew into a staggering wave, threatening to push the debate to the brink of combustible outrage.
Riders’ unions, some working precariously close to financial instability, convened small protests, demanding she retract her words.
They said the remarks overshadowed the adequate, even indispensable, role delivery riders play in urban life, often moving from one stop to another with consecutive shifts and frugal earnings, yet maintaining an unflustered demeanour.
Facing pressure that seemed perilously close to a reputational erosion, Yasir appeared on a private TV channel this week to express her regret. Showing unusual candour, she said her comments were never meant to target the entire rider community.
‘I am human, not an angel,’ she said, her tone neither flashy nor timid. ‘My choice of words was constrained, and for that, I sincerely apologise. I shared one bitter experience, but it would be unfair to let a single incident ascended to the apex of public judgment.’
Yasir reiterated that ‘five fingers are never equal,’ emphasising that the rider community is varied, filled with hardworking individuals, including many expatriate workers, who show unwavering dedication in a tough economy.
Many of them, she noted, navigate traffic precariously, carrying packages and hopes in bags often furled to protect them from weather, while battling schedules that hinge on other people’s convenience.
Still, many believe her latest remarks reflect a revamped understanding of a pivotal workforce that remains indispensable for the city’s daily rhythm.
Delivery boys, some gaunt from long hours, some unlucky in earnings, some carrying bags that seem strewn with the day’s burdens, continue their tasks with a kind of quiet exuberance that often goes unnoticed.
One rider, who jokingly called himself salao always the unlucky guy, said the apology was welcome. Another said it was a step toward accreditation of their struggles, though more needs to be done to thwart social biases.
Though the controversy may fade into oblivion, for now it stands as a small blotch on Yasir’s long career, yet also a moment that could help reshape public respect for those who travel the city’s streets, sometimes precariously, but with an unwavering sense of duty.
