‘RM300 may seem small, but it’s hard-earned’: Ipoh budget rice stall robbery victim still traumatised

A screenshot from a TikTok livestream shows a man posing as a customer at a budget rice stall in Lebuh Meru Raya, Ipoh, moments before allegedly fleeing with a cash box and a mobile phone yesterday. (New users only) It's tax relief season! Get up to RM300 when you save with Versa! Plus, enjoy an additional FREE RM10 when you sign up using code VERSAMM10 with a min. cash-in of RM100 today. T&Cs apply. By Malay Mail Friday, 22 May 2026 5:00 PM MYT KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — A victim of a robbery at a budget rice stall in Lebuh Meru Raya, Ipoh, yesterday said she remains traumatised by the incident.Nor Atheerah Nadzirah Mior Ikram Shah, 21, said she has become easily startled and is now afraid to be alone following the ordeal.“I can’t be by myself, I get scared. After that, I can’t handle being startled at all, anything that shocks me,” she told Utusan Malaysia when met at her stall here today.Recalling the incident, the Ipoh Vocational College diploma graduate said she had been helping her mother at the stall and was alone at the time as her mother had gone out to deliver food with an assistant.She said two men arrived on a motorcycle and stopped at the stall before one of them pretended to place a takeaway food order.“I already had a bad feeling when I saw the man’s behaviour because he seemed to avoid making eye contact with me.“When I was scooping the dishes, I noticed his legs were trembling. He also appeared to be pretending to look at the food, as though he was not genuinely interested in buying anything,” she said.The third of four siblings said she panicked after the man grabbed the cash box and her mobile phone.“I feel very guilty. I apologised many times because I failed to protect the business money. People may think RM300 is a small amount, but for us, it is very hard-earned,” she said.She said she then chased after the suspect and shouted for help from a passing motorist before spotting her mother making a U-turn to return to the stall.In the incident at about noon, two suspects on a motorcycle, posing as customers, fled with a cash box containing RM300 and an iPhone 13 belonging to Nor Atheerah.The incident drew attention after a one-minute-25-second video recorded by Nor Atheerah during a TikTok livestream went viral on social media.