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Steven Sim Chee Keong has been helping ordinary folk in his constituency of Bukit Mertajam even before he assumed any of the ministerial posts in the current government. And if you know how he operates, he’s known for his #JalanTeruih slogan. Well, thankfully, for the most part, he’s been trying his best to help, so much so that he got hospitalised on one of the Chinese New Years, due to his packed schedule of meetings, events, and engagements.

When Steven Sim was appointed the then Human Resources Minister, one of his milestones was the crafting of the Malaysian Gig Workers Act. So, if anyone wants to ban this book, it can only be because the next government is envious of what he did and does not truly understand today’s landscape of gig work. Save for Sim’s pending court case, “Invisible No More” is a delightful and delicious read, well-researched and well-written, if not for a few typos.

So, if you’re one of those considering gig work or have usually been stereotyping gig workers for their unstable nature and unsafe conditions of work, this book might just change your mind. Of course, there are rude delivery riders and other forms of impolite gig workers, including certain types of freelancers, but there are also those who’d go the extra mile to help you out with certain chores, should you yourself have not enough hands to do it all yourself. Then, if you’re lucky, you’d get delivery riders/parcel-hailing/e-hailing drivers who are deaf or mute, but still able to complete the task at hand by being punctual, polite and excellent in their work.

We all know that gig work is here to stay, and has been in existence since it applied to creative work on stages of performing arts. Perhaps, with gig workers now extending to include parcel hailing and transport hailing services, it would have been more complete to see a chapter on how all these are going to coexist with the environment. No doubt, gig workers are happy they have something to keep themselves occupied with. But perhaps, there should now also be considerations for convenient drop-off points and parking spaces where these delivery staff can do their job in a safe manner, while not causing disruption or blocking other people’s path including those who walk, cycle, and travel by their own private transport, while performing their on-demand job/task.

In the first place, parcel hailing and e-hailing services existed in Malaysia as a more efficient way to traditional services like truck/lorry/van grocery delivery services, which you may not get on demand. At the same time, it is to narrow the gap and be a more convenient option for those in need of transport, especially in Malaysia’s extremely humid weather.

Even with the improvement on the MRT and Rapid KL’s van service by the Selangor government, due to ongoing improvement in last-mile connectivity, it’s going to take some time for users to not totally rely on on-demand services.

Sim also acknowledged the former transport minister’s efforts in dealing with these gig workers, drivers. So, it isn’t just about Sim basking in all the glory. In fact, knowing Sim, even as just a member of the public, he isn’t one to celebrate, once the act was passed. This part is worth re-reading. Sim will be one of those to go down in history as one who did some honest work.

The other aspect is on educating these parcel hailing and e-hailing drivers to “matikan enjin”, once you’ve arrived at a customer’s house. This part was not really discussed in the book, but thankfully, based on experience, some drivers have a level of common sense - they understand, without customers having to inform them. Like highlighted in the book, these parcel hailing and e-hailing drivers have a certain target to fulfill per day and their livelihood depends on how many they can deliver or passengers they can ferry per day. When a business is run on this model, there are some aspects that these drivers would overlook or perhaps not think much about.

On-demand services, one part of gig work, are used by those who are able to learn just enough to navigate the platform and app-driven online to offline services. So those who aren’t able to learn would lose out, but also gain something in the sense that they would also save their ka-ching, as a cut of the payment for these services would go towards the platform offering the service. So, online platform usage really depends on whether you’re open to using these services.

With the number of accidents occurring with the introduction of parcel hailing and e-hailing services, the Gig Workers Act has now put in place a cost-efficient dispute resolution measure and grievance mechanism, alongside extending legal recognition, as well as enhanced social security protection for these noble workers. Even with this act, the work from the establishment of the act should continue, and not be halted. More importantly, with the Gig Workers Act, workers can work with dignity and justice in mind.

A cabinet reshuffle in 2025 meant Sim would see his human resources portfolio handed to another, and Sim assuming the post of Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives of Malaysia. Sim can now be seen helping small businesses, including giving Bumiputera businesses a boost in allocation from MYR300 million to MYR500 million, channeling it to TEKUN Nasional, the government agency under KUSKOP.

Sim has written five books so far, including this new 2026 publication. In 2012, Sim was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.