KANGAR: In 2007, Nor Hidayah Radzli, 35, was involved in a road accident while on her way to work at a prominent hotel in Langkawi. That accident resulted in permanent injuries to her right foot, leaving her dependent on her parents to move around.
She had to use a urinary catheter, and was wheelchair-bound before being able to walk with the help of crutches, she told Bernama at a Young Agropreneur roadshow for the northern region here recently.
Tired of having to rely on her poor parents, who are asnaf (eligible zakat recipients), the plucky young woman began making cakes at home. From just meeting orders from family members and acquaintances, she gradually expanded her business through Facebook, and it now brings her a monthly income of RM8,000.
In 2017, she opened a bakery called Mickeypinky Cafe at the Mara arcade in Simpang Empat here, and now gets orders from throughout the country. She said some of the cakes she makes follow the seasons — durian cake, harum manis mango cheesecake, or hari raya cakes — but she also receives orders for birthday, wedding and celebration cakes.
Nor Hidayah expressed her gratitude to the various government agencies such as the Social Welfare Department, Manpower Department and the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) for their assistance and guidance, and to the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry for providing her a Young Agropreneur Grant.
“We are also awaiting approval from the authorities for setting up our own factory so that we can raise our productivity with more sophisticated equipment,” said Nor Hidayah, who also sells snacks and kuih produced by the local community.
In 2018, she said, she and husband Mohd Zaid Ahmad, 35, who also has a culinary background, opened a western-style cafe next to her bakery, employing five permanent workers including asnaf and persons with disabilities as kitchen hands and waitresses.
She added that they intend to open more branches nationwide to inspire young people especially the disabled. – Bernama
