Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) Minister Steven Sim is highlighting the journey of a roadside vendor who, despite facing hardships including seizures of her equipment by local authorities, has successfully opened her own restaurant.
Taking to his Facebook page, Sim shared how the vendor, Kak Saleha, transitioned from a roadside trader to a restaurant owner through sheer hard work and a RM3,000 loan from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM).
He wrote, “Back then, her business was run from a foldable table under a large umbrella by the roadside. She sold nasi lemak, which she cooked at home and packed herself. Sometimes, the local authorities would seize her equipment. But, because her nasi lemak was so popular, Kak Saleha took out a RM3,000 loan with AIM to expand her business.”
“Today, thanks to 15 years of hard work, Nasi Lemak Saleha is no longer just a roadside stall. She owns a restaurant equipped with a central kitchen and dozens of employees. From her original hundred packs a day, she now sells 15,000 packs daily.”
He added that Kak Saleha’s son, Dr Rizal, a medical doctor, has joined the business as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Nasi Lemak Saleha.
Expanding the legacy
Having received financing from AIM, support from SME Corp, and loans from TEKUN, Kak Saleha has also won the E50 Award from SME Corp and serves as a mentor to other AIM entrepreneurs. Now, she is ready to double her production.
When Sim asked what was required to achieve this goal, she explained that she needed accessible financing for her business facilities.
“I have instructed KUSKOP agencies to discuss with Dr Rizal how we can help double their output and their family business’s income,” Sim said.
“Stories like these remind us that many great entrepreneurs start with small steps. My mission at KUSKOP is to ensure that small businesses become big, and big businesses become even bigger! We will make Malaysian businesses great!”
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