Author name: ypadmin

Dahulunya cuma dapat menjual 10 bungkus nasi lemak sehari, Nurul Asyikin kini menjual lebih dari 50 bungkus nasi lemak dan aneka kuih-muih di gerai tepi jalan – yang menariknya digelar “Nasi Lemak Lemas”. Tetapi suatu masa dahulu, pendapatan beliau tidak seberapa. Selalunya beliau hanya meraih RM100 setiap bulan, hasil menjual nasi lemak bungkus di hadapan rumahnya. Sememangnya ia tidak cukup untuk menyara keluarga namun apakan daya, itu sahaja mata pencarian. Apatah lagi dengan anak-anak yang masih kecil, beliau langsung tidak dapat meninggalkan rumah untuk mencari pekerjaan. “Selalunya, hanya orang kampung sahaja yang akan membeli. Kadang-kala akan terjual habis, dan ada kalanya tidak,” luahnya. Sekiranya terdapat lebihan makanan, semuanya akan dimakan seisi keluarga supaya tidak membazir. Cabaran Tidak Bererti Terus ‘Bungkus’ Hinggalah pada suatu hari, sebuah peluang keemasan hadir di dalam hidupnya. Nurul Asyikin nekad untuk memohon ke dalam Program empowerNCER. Melalui program empowerNCER, Yayasan PETRONAS yang menerajui inisiatif Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat (MEKAR) telah membekalkan Nurul dengan kemahiran baru.  Ia merupakan sebuah program keusahawanan yang direka untuk membantu dan melatih komuniti B40 demi menaikkan taraf hidup mereka. “Banyak yang saya pelajari daripada program tersebut. Daripada aspek mengurus perniagaan sampailah bagaimana menjadi lebih produktif dan memberi pelanggan lebih banyak pilihan,” ulas Nurul Asyikin. “Saya juga dapat sokongan padu daripada mereka, dan merekalah juga yang membantu nasi lemak saya jadi viral!” katanya sambil tersenyum lebar. Nurul Asyikin seorang yang ceria dan mudah mesra dengan sesiapapun. Malah personaliti beliau terpancar pada slogan gerainya, “Lemaslah anda dalam kelazatan” yang cukup mencuit dan memikat hati mana-mana pelanggan. Sejak awal lagi, beliau nekad untuk menggembirakan pelanggannya dan hidangan beliau tidak pernah menghampakan. Nasi lemak bungkusnya cukup banyak, dengan pebagai pilihan nasi – nasi putih, nasi lemak bersantan, nasi beras perang dan nasi pulut. Tetapi sebenarnya, bukan nasi sahaja yang menjadi tarikan. Buat si pencinta nasi lemak, rahsia kelazatan nasi lemak yang sebenar adalah pada sambal. “Saya memasak sambal selama 4 ke 5 jam setiap hari,” cerita Nurul Asyikin, sedikit sebanyak berkongsi rahsianya di dapur. Namun apa yang nyata adalah azam beliau untuk menggenggam kejayaan. Pendapatan Berganda Beliau tidak pernah terbayang untuk mempunyai gerai jauh dari rumah. Tetapi bermula dari hanya berniaga di meja kecil di hadapan rumah, Nurul Asyikin kini berniaga di gerai kanopi sendiri di tepi jalan di Batu 42 Baling, Kedah, setiap hari dari pukul 7 – 10 pagi, tanpa lelah. “Sekarang saya dapat menjual lebih dari 50 bungkus nasi lemak setiap hari. Adik saya pun turun padang untuk menolong,” kongsinya. Sejak kebelakangan ini, beliau meraih pendapatan kira-kira RM2,000 setiap bulan. “Saya amat bersyukur kerana saya mendapat pertolongan ketika saya benar-benar memerlukannya,” tambahnya lagi. “Saya mampu untuk membayar yuran persekolahan dan kelas tambahan anak. Saya juga sudah mempunyai simpanan serba sedikit,” jelasnya. Bagi beliau, pertambahan pendapatan ini telah memarakkan api semangat dalam dirinya. Hasil keuntungan perniagaannya, Nurul Asyikin telah membeli periuk memasak nasi yang lebih besar supaya beliau dapat membuat lebih banyak bungkusan nasi lemak. Nasi Lemak Lemas di ‘lautan’ pelanggan online Di media sosial, beliau memasarkan perniagaannya di laman Nasi Lemak Lemas, Antara gambar terbaharunya yang dimuat naik dalam media sosial, Nurul Asyikin setia menunggu pelanggan sesudah fajar, bersama barisan bungkusan nasi lemak, kuih dan sandwic yang menyelerakan. Sewaktu perlaksanaan kawalan pergerakan, Nurul Asyikin tidak membuang masa. Sepantas kilat, beliau beralih ke servis penghantaran makanan ke rumah pelanggan. Pengumuman yang tertera di laman Facebook: “Kalau takut untuk keluar rumah, kami boleh hantarkan pesanan ke rumah, dibayar tunai apabila makanan anda tiba.” Setiap sen hasil berniaga amat besar maknanya buat peniaga seperti Nurul Asyikin. Ayuh beramai-ramai menyokong beliau dan keluarga B40 lain yang sedang berhempas pulas untuk mencari rezeki ke arah mengubah nasib diri. Adakah anda tahu akan mana-mana perniagan yang boleh kami bantu dan bimbing? Kongsikan di ruangan komen!

Starting from just 10 packets of nasi lemak a day, Nurul Asyikin now sells more than 50 packets of nasi lemak and an assortment of amazing breakfast munchies at her roadside stall she calls “Nasi Lemak Lemas”.  But there was a time she was not making much at all. She used to bring home a measly RM100 each month from sales of nasi lemak packets in front of her house. It was not enough for her family but it was all she knew to do. With children to care for, she could not leave her house to find a job. “Only people around my village would buy. Sometimes I sell out, some days I don’t,” she said. Leftovers were eaten by her family. Nothing went to waste.  Determined To Delight  Opportunity soon came knocking on her door.  Nurul Asyikin applied for Program empowerNCER in Baling district funded by Yayasan PETRONAS under its Program MEKAR (Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat) initiative. This is an entrepreneurship program designed to give practical help and training to B40 communities for a better livelihood.  “I learnt so much from the program, how to manage my business, how to be more productive and sell a variety of food to give customers more choices,” Nurul Asyikin said of the program. “I also received a lot of moral support and they helped my nasi lemak go viral!” she beamed.  Nurul Asyikin is a jovial and friendly lady and her personality reflects on her business tagline that reads, “Customers will drown in deliciousness” when they eat her nasi lemak lemas.  From the get go, she was determined to delight her customers and they have not been disappointed. Her nasi lemak packets are generously portioned, with a variety of options to choose from – white rice, coconut milk infused rice, brown rice and glutinous rice.  But it’s not just the rice. Any nasi lemak lover knows that the magic is in the sambal. “I cook the sambal for 4-5 hours everyday,” Nurul Asyikin lets out the secret and gives us a hint of how hard she works to get to where she is today. Amazing Multiplication  It was beyond her imagination to open a roadside stall away from home, but from a table in front of her house, Nurul Asyikin now sets up her canopy stall along the side of Batu 42 Baling, Kedah everyday from 7 – 10am, without fail.  “I now sell more than 50 packets of nasi lemak everyday and my sister is also helping out,” she said.  Of late, she earns at least RM2,000 monthly. “I am so grateful I received the help I desperately needed,” she said.  “I can pay for my child’s school fees and tuition fees and I now have some savings,” she explained. The increase in income has given her a new motivation.  Nurul Asyikin also purchased a larger rice cooker to make many more packets of delicious nasi lemak from her recent profits.  Taking it online and to the customers  Nasi Lemak Lemas is where you can find her online. In a recent post you will see a table full of nasi lemak packets, cakes and sandwiches with Nurul Asyikin waiting patiently for her customers as dawn breaks. During these volatile times of navigating lockdown restrictions, Nurul Asyikin is quickly pivoting to include delivery services right to her customer’s doorstep. She posted on Facebook, “If you’re afraid to leave your house and don’t want to go out, let us come to your house with COD orders.” Every sale counts for small business owners like Nurul Asyikin.  Let’s come around to support her and other B40 families who are working hard to survive and eventually thrive.  Do you know of other local businesses that we can all help to support?  Let us know in the comments section.

For many, the thought of losing our sight is a terrifying prospect.  Despite facing immense difficulties as a result of vision loss, Mohd Azman Bin Md Rejab did not wallow in his adversity. Instead, he set off with a vision to improve his life and the future of his family.  Azman lives in Kampung Bawah Gunong in Baling, Kedah –  a typical rural village in Malaysia where most people make a living through farming and odd jobs. Finding a good job there with a steady income is few and far between. But Azman loves the kampung life and he has no plans to move. His resolve to provide for his family while still staying in his village made him ponder on what he could do to earn a sustainable income. Having personally experienced healing benefits from reflexology sessions, Azman decided to take up a course on reflexology.  “My fingers were ultra-sensitive and my hands grew stronger the more I practiced,” he said. He realised that his condition gave him the advantage of swiftly and accurately identifying the ‘knots’ on his customers’ bodies and giving them relief.  “After the course, I printed flyers and got my friends to distribute them. That is how I got my first few customers,” he said. He started by making a small income of RM300 every month.  But, eventually, the business plateaued.   Timing And Opportunity Collided  While Azman had the skills, he didn’t have the knowledge to grow his business, neither did he know how to gain customers nor promote the business beyond his kampung borders.  It was precisely at this time that he got to know about Program empowerNCER at Baling district which is funded by Yayasan PETRONAS under its Program MEKAR (Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat) initiative. This is an entrepreneurship and skills training aimed at enabling B40 communities to be self-sustaining.  This was the boost that Azman desperately needed. Soon after the training, Azman gave his business a facelift by sprucing up his facility with new comfortable massage chairs and installing a catchy ‘D’Desa Reflexology’ signboard by the side of the road directing new customers to his place. New motivation ignited the business. Azman continued to improve his skills as a masseur and his confidence grew as word got around. Customers kept coming back and recommendations went around. Azman was also given the chance to share his skills online which created another promotional trail.  Today, Azman receives a steady stream of customers as a result of effective and good service coupled with better marketing skills. Azman earns three times more than the meagre RM300 he was getting when his business first started.   “I would like to thank all those involved because through this program I have gained more confidence to move forward. I have met many customers who are satisfied with my service. And, some are willing to travel from as far as Terengganu, Kelantan and Sungai Petani. They are all satisfied with the service I provide,” says Azman.  Dream Big Life has improved for Azman and his family and he continues to dream big. “I have high hopes that one day, I will have the opportunity to provide this reflexology service to leaders of this country,” says Azman. The high achieving spirit coupled with hard work is what it takes for people like Azman to come out of poverty despite physical challenges.  There are many in the low-income bracket just like Azman. They have skills and talent, yet lack the knowledge and opportunity to craft a better life.  Azman’s participation in Program MEKAR was a case of perfect timing and perseverance. Do you know anyone who could do with an extra boost of knowledge, mentoring and training? Comment below.

At Kampung Lubuk Legong in Baling, Kedah, Ubal bin Kulim’s infectious positivity draws regular customers to his burger stall every day, particularly Orang Asli youths who see him as a role model.  At 32 years old, Ubal was once living in absolute poverty, without a full-time job and earning only about RM300 per month selling chicken nuggets.  The fifth child of eleven siblings, the young lad had an interest in entrepreneurship, but he just did not know how to develop it. He tried selling products online but it did not take off.  Then, the golden opportunity came to apply to join training courses offered by Program empowerNCER in Baling, which is funded by Yayasan PETRONAS  under its Program MEKAR (Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat) initiative. He learned the much-needed entrepreneurship skills and knowledge of starting and growing his own business.  But Ubal had to fight against the odds of limited resources and the cultural stigma of being an Orang Asli. Breaking mindsets Traditionally, the Orang Asli, or indigenous people of the land, have been known to make a living from natural resources, typically via farming or fishing. The unspoken cloud of economic deprivation seems to hover over them from one generation to the next.  As a millennial, Ubal was quick to recognise the limiting mindset. “I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn and be trained on how to open my own burger stall. I am very excited to start a new venture,” Ubal shared with gratitude and anticipation.   Coming out of poverty  “I am probably the first Orang Asli in this village to open a store,” Ubal beamed, his pride is not without reason.  As he started out, he had to gain the confidence of his customers. He made sure he was there on time everyday to open his stall, hang the banners and clean the place in preparation for customers to arrive.  Ubal speaks enthusiastically about how his sales grew as he continued to diversify the products at his burger stall. He included drinks and the delicious Thai papaya salad, somtam to the menu. Today, he earns on average RM1,020, three times his previous income. On good months, Ubal can earn up to RM1600.  “I used to worry about my finances, but now, I am able to support my family and even have some savings,” said Ubal. His confidence grew as the months went by. He also saw many regular customers and many of them were young boys who love hanging out around his stall.  Paying it forward  Having experienced the gift of mentorship and training from the empowerNCER program, Ubal now sees the potential in other young Orang Asli folks in his village. “I hope to be a role model to the next generation of Orang Asli and send a message that if I can do it, so can they,” said Ubal.  Having lived through hard times, he understands the plight of his people and Ubal is paying it forward by donating some of his profits to needy families.  Ubal’s earnings today is a great leap from where he was before. His success is a result of hard work, determination and help from others.  His past did not dictate his future, instead it propelled him forward.  Watch as Ubal shares his personal journey:  We all need an extra dose of the same infectious positivity and benevolence as Ubal if we want to see positive changes in our communities.  If Ubal’s story has inspired you, take a moment to ponder on where you are today and who have helped you get there.  Then practice gratitude by paying it forward to those in need around you.

Abdul Manaf bin Ahmad had a dream to build his own home, but this seemed an illusion due to financial constraints.  As a rubber tapper in Baling, his income was meagre and inconsistent. Most months, Abdul Manaf only made RM300, barely enough with a family to feed.  Determined to eke extra income, Abdul Manaf and his wife turned to lemang making.  Traditionally, lemang is eaten during Hari Raya and is synonymous with the celebration, but now, the well-loved glutinous rice dish can be found all year round. Travel along the byways of connecting towns in Malaysia and you can often spot a lemang stall with smoke billowing from the signature bamboo lined fence propped up against an open fire. Inside the bamboo sticks is a concoction of perfectly well-seasoned glutinous rice with coconut milk and salt.  Pioneering Days Incidentally, Abdul Manaf lives near a forest with an abundance of bamboo. “Every few days I harvest a few logs and load it up on my motorbike. At home, I clean the logs and prepare these to be stuffed with rice,” he said.  Abdul Manaf does all the heavy lifting, while his wife took charge of the cooking. “We work well as a team,” he chuckled. “We started small. Twice a week I will load up my motorbike basket with lemang and sold a few sticks at the side of the road,” he said. He was still tapping rubber on the other days.  Business was slow initially, but every time Abdul Manaf sold lemang, it would sell out by the end of the day. “People around my kampung came and bought from us. Sometimes I also sold it at shops,” he said of his pioneering days.  The pair also sold accompaniments. “We also make our own serunding, a family recipe that’s been passed down for generations,” he said. Serunding is a very popular dish among Malays. The dry shredded meat dish is infused with herbs and spices, and it pairs nicely with rice.   Splitting Decision Sales started picking up but Abdul Manaf was still spending a significant amount of time in the rubber plantation. “I was making some money from our lemang sales and I wanted to stop rubber tapping, but I did not know how to scale my business. I have been a rubber tapper all my life,” he said.  While he was toying with the idea, Abdul Manaf heard about Program empowerNCER, an entrepreneurship training at Baling district funded by Yayasan PETRONAS through its Program MEKAR (Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat) and decided to apply for it. “I was so surprised when I got accepted to the program!” he said. With the knowledge and practical tools gained from the training, Abdul Manaf took the leap to fully invest his time and effort on growing his lemang business.  “My wife and I decided that we should open our stall every day. We bought a canopy, some tables and chairs and picked a spot along the main road to set up our stall,” he said. The duo learned the importance of consistency and building a presence with their stall.  They also experimented on different variations of lemang, veering away from the traditional plain glutinous rice. “My customers love our special slow-cooked pumpkin-filled lemang,” he proudly claims. The signature peach coloured lemang is inviting to the eye and sensational in flavour.  ‘Pak Manaf’s Lemang Stall’ grew in presence and sales. Cars can often be seen parked along the road and Abdul Manaf began receiving catering requests to supply lemang at various events.  Fulfilling Dreams During the festive season, particularly Hari Raya, Abdul Manaf can earn up to RM2,600, a huge leap from his rubber tapping days. On other non-festive months, his income averages between RM1,200 – RM1,500.  He used to make 30 sticks of lemang every week, now he makes up to 100 sticks per week.  The increased and consistent income has allowed Abdul Manaf to put his dream in motion. “I want to continue to grow my business and fulfil my dream to finally own my own home,” he said. He is currently renting but has started building his house which is now halfway to completion.  “My 8-year-old son always wanted a bicycle and I am so happy I was able to give him his dream present,” he added another joy.  The impact of helping one person will put in motion a ripple effect of positive outcomes. Abdul Manaf and his family now enjoy a better quality of life and his children have a better start at creating their own successes.  Who can you help today? Remember, all you need to do is make a difference in one life, and its effects are far reaching.

Buat ramai antara kita, tidak sanggup rasanya melalui kehidupan tanpa keupayaan untuk melihat. Namun buat Mohd Azman Bin Md Rejab yang terpaksa menghadapi pelbagai cabaran akibat hilang penglihatan, beliau memilih untuk tidak terus menangisi nasib diri. Sebaliknya, beliau bangkit demi menaik taraf kehidupan diri sekeluarga. Azman menetap di Kampung Bawah Gunong di Baling, Kedah. Seperti kebanyakan kampung-kampung terpencil di Malaysia, rata-rata penduduknya mencari rezeki melalui pertanian dan kerja upah kecil-kecilan. Kerja yang lumayan dengan pendapatan tetap sememangnya sukar didapati. Tetapi buat Azman, jiwanya tetap pada kehidupan kampung dan beliau berhasrat untuk terus tinggal di kampung halaman. Dek ketekadan untuk terus memberi nafkah buat keluarga, beliau mencari ikhtiar untuk memperoleh pendapatan tetap. Pada masa yang sama, Azman menyingkap kembali pengalamannya dirawat melalui sesi refleksologi yang sedikit sebanyak menyembuhkan sakit sebelum ini. Lantas, Azman memutuskan untuk menjalani kurus refleksologi. “Jari-jemari saya sememangnya amat peka dan semakin banyak saya berlatih, tangan saya pula menjadi semakin kuat,” ujar Azman. Beliau juga menyedari bahawa keadaannya yang tiada penglihatan memberinya kelebihan dan ketangkasan dalam mencari urat saraf yang perlu diurut, supaya dapat melegakan sakit-sakit pada tubuh pelanggan. “Selepas sahaja tamat kursus, saya terus mencetak risalah dan meminta jasa kawan-kawan untuk membantu menyebarkannya. Itulah permulaannya di mana saya berjaya mendapat beberapa orang pelanggan,” kongsi Azman. Selepas itu, beliau mula memperoleh pendapatan kecil sebanyak RM300 setiap bulan. Namun demikian setelah sekian lama, perniagaannya masih berada di takuk yang sama. Peluang Tiba Tepat Pada Waktunya Walaupun Azman berkemahiran, beliau kurang berpengetahuan dalam mengembangkan perniagaan. Beliau tidak tahu cara menambah bilangan pelanggan, apatah lagi memasarkan khidmatnya di luar kawasan kampung sendiri. Tepat pada detik itu, Azman mendapat tahu tentang Program empowerNCER.  Melalui program empowerNCER, Yayasan PETRONAS yang menerajui inisiatif Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat (MEKAR) telah membekalkan Azman dengan kemahiran baru.  Ia merupakan sebuah program latihan keusahawanan dan kemahiran bertujuan untuk memperkasakan komuniti B40 bagi  meningkatkan tahap kemapanan dan kebergantungan pada diri sendiri. Inilah batu loncatan yang Azman benar-benar perlukan. Sejurus selepas program latihan tersebut, Azman ‘mengubah wajah’ perniagaannya dengan menaik taraf pusat refleksologi yang kini dilengkapi dengan kerusi urut baharu yang selesa dan papan tanda berwarna kuning menyala dengan nama ‘D’Desa Reflexology’ untuk menarik pelanggan baharu. Semangat baharu menghidupkan kembali perniagaan beliau. Azman terus meningkatkan kemahirannya sebagai juru urut dan beliau bertambah yakin apabila perniagaannya semakin diketahui ramai. Malah, pelanggan kerap kembali dan turut menyarankan D’Desa Reflexology kepada orang lain. Selain itu, Azman juga diberi peluang untuk berkongsi kemahirannya melalui sesi online yang telah membuka ruang untuk mempromosikan perniagaannya. Hari ini, Azman memperoleh jumlah pelanggan yang tetap, hasil khidmat yang memuaskan dan kemahiran pemasaran yang lebih berkesan. Kini, Azman memperoleh tiga kali ganda pendapatan berbanding jumlah RM300 sewaktu perniagaannya baru bertapak.  “Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua yang terlibat kerana menerusi program ini, saya telah bertambah yakin untuk maju ke hadapan. Saya telah ditemukan dengan ramai pelanggan yang berpuas hati dengan khidmat saya. Malah ramai yang sanggup datang dari jauh seperti dari Terengganu, Kelantan dan Sungai Petani. Semuanya berpuas hati dengan khidmat yang saya berikan,” kongsi Azman. Memasang Impian Lebih Besar Kehidupan bertambah baik buat Azman sekeluarga dan beliau memandang semakin jauh ke hadapan. “Saya amat berharap bahawa suatu hari nanti, saya berpeluang untuk memberikan khidmat refleksologi buat para pemimpin negara ini,” akhiri Azman. Semangat yakin boleh dan kerja keras telah membawa Azman keluar dari kancah kemiskinan walaupun beliau tiada penglihatan. Namun terdapat ramai lagi daripada golongan berpendapatan rendah seperti Azman. Mereka mempunyai kemahiran dan bakat, tetapi sayangnya kurang ilmu dan peluang untuk menempa kehidupan yang lebih baik.  Azman menyertai Program empowerNCER pada masa yang tepat dan kesungguhan beliau telahpun membuahkan hasil.  Bagaimana pula dengan anda? Adakah anda mengenali sesiapa yang memerlukan ilmu, bimbingan dan latihan? Komen di bawah.

Norhazima binti Abdul Jalil was a young mother trying hard to make ends meet.  While caring for her family, she also sold food in front of her house. She didn’t make much, about RM500 per month at best. Together with her husband’s income as a rubber tapper, it was hardly enough to survive. “There were days I had to turn down requests from my children to join school programmes because I couldn’t afford to pay for it,” Norhazima shared. School supplies, nicer clothes and snacks were luxuries as the family did not have savings, let alone extras to give to their children.  Thankfully, their basic needs for food and nourishment were always met. Norhazima was a good cook and she made every cent count. “I love to cook and I will try food from elsewhere and come back and experiment with different ingredients,” she said.  Giving others a taste of her passion  “It has been my dream to own my own restaurant and my friends always encouraged me to try,” Norhazima explained when asked about the beginnings of her restaurant. She would occasionally try different recipes and invite small groups over to share a meal. Friends and family who tasted her food would seed the idea of a future eatery.  Caption: Warung Romantik is tucked away in Kampung Pond Creek in Pendang, Kedah However, Norhazima did not have any experience or know-how to start her business.  It was then that she heard about the empowerNCER entrepreneurship training in Pendang district which is funded by Yayasan PETRONAS under its Program MEKAR (Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat) initiative. The program trainers were quick to spot her potential and enthusiasm.  Very quickly, they helped her work on a business plan and provided the mentoring and training she needed. Within several weeks, she set up Warung Romantik Norhazima.  Today, if you happen to be taking a road trip along the West Coast of Malaysia, drop by Norhazima’s rustic restaurant, tucked away in the rubber plantations and be delighted by her home cooking. She serves the famous laksam, a rice noodle dish with cylindrical noodles drenched with creamy coconut gravy and pounded fish served with a beautiful selection of local herbs and vegetables. Kuey teow theng, another favourite, is a type of rice noodle dish with a clear broth topped with fragrant spicy sambal.  Personal growth and development  Norhazima grew leaps and bounds in her confidence as a business owner. Within a few weeks of promoting her dishes on social media, customers tripled.  She now generates almost 12 times more than what she used to earn. The steady income of about RM6000 per month has given her a great sense of security and accomplishment. The young mother beams with joy when she talks about giving her children special treats and being able to buy them school supplies when they need it.  Caption: Norhazima’s warung being shared on social media bringing customers from near and far.   “I am now able to hire one extra person to help me in the kitchen. I hope to empower more women and give them job opportunities in the future,” said Norhazima. “I also got my husband and son to help with food delivery orders,” the growing leader explained.  When the pandemic hit and the Movement Control Order (MCO) was issued, Norhazima continued her food business via delivery orders and subsequently reopened for business when the restrictions eased.  Caption: Norhazima is now able to hire an extra person at the warung as her business continues to grow. These job opportunities mean a lot to the women in the village. Innovation and creativity continue to fuel her business. She has included different types of noodles to her menu – including a variety of snacks and drinks at her restaurant.  With some capital in hand, Norhazima now plants chillies and kangkung as cash crops. She has saved enough from her combined ventures to purchase a car to grow her business. And this is just the start of her new journey… Norhazima shares her story:  Norhazima’s story may resonate with you, especially in this time of living through a pandemic. She had a passion and was given the opportunity and training to learn how to monetise it. Her success is not without sweat and toil, but it paid off.  Norhazima’s business grew because of word of mouth as well as active promotion on social media.  Do you know of similar stories like Norhazima’s?  Comment below or tag the business below so we can all help to support local businesses.

Suatu ketika dahulu, Norhazima binti Abdul Jalil merupakan seorang ibu muda yang terpaksa bersusah-payah untuk mencari pendapatan.  Demi mencari sesuap nasi untuk seisi keluarga, beliau berikhtiar menjual makanan di hadapan rumahnya. Tetapi dalam masa sebulan, pendapatannya hanya mampu mencecah RM500. Walaupun dengan pendapatan terkumpul bersama suami yang berkerja menoreh getah, ia masih tidak cukup untuk menjalankan kehidupan. “Ada kalanya saya tak dapat nak izinkan anak-anak untuk ikuti program di sekolah kerana saya tak mampu untuk membayar yurannya,” luah Norhazima. Kelengkapan sekolah, baju baru, mahupun kudap-kudapan sekalipun adalah sebuah ‘kemewahan’ buat mereka sekeluarga. Mereka tidak mempunyai sebarang wang simpanan, apatah lagi duit belanja lebih untuk diberi kepada anak-anak. Tetapi sekurang-kurangnya, mereka tidak pernah berlapar. Tambahan lagi, Norhazima pandai memasak dan tidak akan sekali-kali membazir.  “Saya memang suka memasak! Setiap kali saya mencuba juadah yang baharu, saya akan mula berjinak-jinak di rumah dengan bahan masakan yang berlainan,” cerita Norhazima lagi. Minat memasak jadi perniagaan “Saya dah lama bercita-cita untuk mempunyai restoran sendiri. Kawan-kawan pun selalu memberi saya galakan,” jelas Norhazima apabila mengimbau kembali permulaan restorannya. Sekali sekala, beliau akan mencuba resipi baharu dan mengundang rakan-rakan ke rumah untuk menikmatinya bersama. Seronok melihat rakan-rakan merasa air tangannya, timbullah bibit-bibit idea untuk membuka kedai makan sendiri.  Caption: Warung Romantik terletak di Kampung Pond Creek di Pendang, Kedah Walaubagaimanapun, Norhazima tidak berpengalaman ataupun berpengetahuan untuk memulakan perniagaan sendiri. Seperti sudah ditakdirkan, beliau akhirnya mendapat tahu tentang Program empowerNCER. Melalui program ini, Yayasan PETRONAS yang menerajui inisiatif Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat (MEKAR) telah membekalkan Norhazima dengan kemahiran baru.  Sejak awal lagi, potensi dan semangat dalam diri beliau telah mendapat perhatian tenaga pengajar. Tidak lama selepas itu, mereka membantu Norhazima dalam perancangan perniagaannya dan memberikan tunjuk ajar secukupnya. Selang beberapa minggu, beliau berjaya membuka Warung Romantik Norhazima. Jadi jika melalui jalan Pantai Timur Malaysia, jangan lupa singgah di Warung Romantik Norhazima yang berlokasi di kawasan ladang getah. Sekali cuba, pasti akan tertawan dengan keenakan masakan Norhazima. Di restorannya, beliau menghidangkan laksam, sejenis juadah popular berasaskan ‘gulungan’ mi tepung beras yang disaji dengan kuah ikan bersantan bersama herba dan sayuran tempatan. Antara yang menarik pengunjung juga ialah Kuetiau Theng, sejenis juadah mi tepung beras berkuah jernih, disempurnakan dengan kepedasan sambal. Jadi insan yang lebih kuat Kini, Norhazima jauh lebih berkeyakinan sebagai peniaga. Hanya selepas beberapa minggu memasarkan juadahnya di media sosial, pengunjung mula datang berduyun-duyun, lebih tiga kali ganda daripada kebiasannya. Hari ini, beliau meraih sebanyak 12 kali ganda pendapatan berbanding sebelum ini. Pendapatan tetap beliau sebanyak RM6000 sebulan adalah sebuah kejayaan manis yang menjanjikan masa hadapan yang lebih cerah. Sebagai seorang ibu, beliau gembira apabila sekali-sekala dapat memanjakan anak-anak dan menyediakan kelengkapan sekolah apabila perlu.  Caption: Warung Romantik Norhazima ‘viral’ di media sosial, menarik pengunjung dari jauh dan dekat “Kini, saya berkemampuan untuk menggajikan seorang pekerja untuk membantu saya di dapur. Tetapi di masa akan datang, saya berharap dapat membantu ramai lagi wanita dan memberikan mereka peluang pekerjaan,” kata Norhazima. “Suami dan anak pun turun padang untuk membuat penghantaran makanan,” jelas Norhazima yang semakin yakin dalam perniagaannya. Apabila pandemik melanda negara dan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) dilaksanakan, Norhazima kekal berjuang. Beliau meneruskan perniagaannya melalui khidmat pesanan dan penghantaran makanan dan membuka kembali warung apabila PKP dilonggarkan. Caption: Perniagaan Norhazima semakin maju dan kini beliau mampu untuk menggajikan seorang pekerja di warung. Peluang pekerjaan seperti ini amat bermakna buat glongan wanita di kampung Pada masa yang sama, beliau menggunakan inovasi dan kreativiti demi memajukan perniagaan. Oleh itu, beliau telah menambah banyak lagi jenis hidangan mi ke dalam menu, di samping menyediakan pelbagai air minuman dan kudap-kudapan yang boleh dinikmati pengunjung.  Berbekalkan sedikit modal, Norhazima kini juga menanam cili dan kangkung sebagai sumber pendapatan tambahan. Hasil wang simpanan daripada semua perniagaan beliau, Norhazima telah berjaya membeli kereta untuk mengembangkan lagi perniagannya. Namun buat beliau, ini hanyalah permulaan. Banyak lagi yang bakal beliau kecapi! Norhazima berkongsi kisahnya: Kisah Norhazima memberikan harapan buat kita, lebih-lebih lagi di waktu kita diuji dengan pandemik. Beliau bermula dengan sebuah minat, dan kemudian diberikan peluang dan tunjuk ajar untuk menggunakan minatnya dalam mencari pendapatan. Perjalanan Norhazima bukanlah mudah, tetapi hasilnya cukup berbaloi. Sehingga ke hari ini, perniagaan Norhazima terus maju kerana beliau sentiasa aktif memasarkan hidangannya di media sosial. Adakah anda mengenali sesiapa yang mempunyai kisah seperti Norhazima? Komen atau tag perniagaan mereka di ruangan komen supaya kami dapat terus membantu menyokong produk dan servis tempatan!

Di Kampung Lubuk Legong di Baling, Kedah, sikap ceria dan positif Ubal bin Kulim menarik pelanggan tetap ke gerai burgernya setiap hari, terutama di kalangan pemuda Orang Asli yang menjadikannya sebagai contoh. Kini berusia 32 tahun, Ubal pernah hidup susah dalam kemiskinan, tanpa pekerjaan sepenuh masa dan hanya memperoleh sekitar RM300 sebulan menjual nugget ayam. Anak kelima dari sebelas adik beradik ini mempunyai minat dalam bidang keusahawanan, tetapi tidak tahu bagaimana untuk menerokai minatnya. Beliau ada cuba menjual produk secara dalam talian tetapi tidak berjaya. Kemudian, peluang keemasan hadir apabila permohonan dibuka untuk Program empowerNCER. Melalui program empowerNCER, Yayasan PETRONAS yang menerajui inisiatif Memampankan Ekonomi Asas Rakyat (MEKAR) telah membekalkan Ubal dengan kemahiran baru. Di sini, beliau mempelajari kemahiran dan ilmu keusahawanan yang penting untuk memulakan dan membangunkan perniagaannya sendiri. Tetapi perjuangan Ubal ada cabarannya. Beliau tidak mempunyai banyak sumber namun beliau tetap nekad untuk membuktikan kebolehan dirinya dan melawan stigma masyarakat tentang Orang Asli. Tukar cara pemikiran Secara tradisi, Orang Asli mencari nafkah dari sumber semula jadi, biasanya dengan cara bertani atau menangkap ikan. Meskipun begitu, susah payah kehidupan umpama diwarisi dari satu generasi ke generasi yang lain, diduga kesempitan ekonomi yang sentiasa menyelubungi masyarakat mereka. Sebagai seorang pemuda millenial, Ubal menyedari bahawa cara pemikiran tidak seharusnya kekal di takuk lama. “Saya sangat berterima kasih atas peluang untuk belajar dan berlatih bagi membuka gerai burger saya sendiri. Saya sangat teruja untuk memulakan lembaran baharu dengan perniagaan saya,” kongsi Ubal dengan rasa syukur. Keluar dari kemiskinan “Kemungkinan besar, saya adalah Orang Asli pertama di kampung ini yang membuka gerainya sendiri,” kata Ubal, bangga atas kejayaannya. Ketika beliau baru saja memulakan perniagaan, beliau berusaha mendapatkan kepercayaan pelanggannya. Oleh itu, setiap hari Ubal akan memastikan bahawa beliau datang membuka gerai tepat pada masanya, di samping menggantung papan tanda dan membersihkan gerai untuk mengalu-alukan ketibaan pelanggan.  Dengan penuh bersemangat, Ubal berkongsi tentang hasil jualan yang meningkat sebaik sahaja beliau mempelbagaikan produk di gerai burgernya. Beliau memperkenalkan minuman serta salad betik Thai dan somtam yang enak ke dalam menu. Hari ini, Ubal memperoleh secara pendapatan purata sebanyak RM1,020 – iaitu tiga kali ganda berbanding pendapatan sebelumnya. Malah, jika hasil jualan bulanan lebih tinggi daripada biasa, pendapatan Ubal boleh mencecah RM1600. “Dahulu, saya sering bimbangkan kewangan saya. Tetapi sekarang, saya dapat menyara keluarga dan juga menyimpan sedikit wang,” kata Ubal. Semakin lama, beliau semakin yakin dengan perniagaannya. Beliau menerima kunjungan dari pelanggan tetap dan kebanyakannya adalah golongan pemuda yang gemar meluangkan masa di gerainya. Menyumbang kepada komuniti Setelah menerima bimbingan dan latihan dalam program empowerNCER, Ubal kini melihat banyak potensi dalam masyarakat Orang Asli lain di kampungnya. “Saya berharap dapat menjadi contoh bagi generasi Orang Asli yang akan datang. Saya ingin mereka sedar bahawa jika saya boleh melakukannya, begitu juga dengan mereka,” kata Ubal bersungguh-sungguh. Setelah diri sendiri diuji dengan cabaran hidup, beliau memahami perit getir kehidupan masyarakatnya. Oleh itu, Ubal menghulurkan bantuan dengan mendermakan sebahagian daripada keuntungannya kepada keluarga-keluarga yang memerlukan. Pendapatan Ubal hari ini jauh berbeza berbanding kehidupannya yang susah sebelum ini. Kejayaannya adalah hasil kerja keras, tekad yang kuat serta bantuan dan bimbingan dari orang lain. Masa lampau yang susah tidak bermaksud beliau akan selamanya susah. Malah, masa lampau beliau yang terus memberinya inspirasi untuk melangkah jauh ke hadapan.  Dengarkan perkongsian Ubal tentang perjalanan hidupnya: Kita semua perlukan jentikan semangat yang positif dan memupuk nilai murni seperti Ubal. Inilah langkah pertama sekiranya kita ingin melihat perubahan positif dalam komuniti kita. Sekiranya kisah Ubal telah memberi inspirasi kepada anda, luangkan sedikit masa untuk memikirkan siapa anda pada hari ini, dan kenangkan kembali insan-insan yang telah membantu anda. Syukurilah nikmat yang ada dan ayuh kita berkongsi rezeki dengan mereka yang memerlukan.