WITH unwavering support from his parents and the knowledge gained from the Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (CENTEX), Akmal Hibatullah Irfan Ahmad Affiandey now owns Segakcut Barbershop, which has expanded to 15 branches.
Akmal, a graduate with a Professional Diploma in Hair Design and Make-up, firmly believes in sharing knowledge. This belief has propelled him to continually open new branches and provide opportunities for local youths to earn a living.
The 24-year-old barber revealed that last year, he managed 22 branches, but some had to be closed due to insufficient returns. Nevertheless, Akmal emphasised that the acquired knowledge and consistent support from his parents motivated him to broaden his business to other locations.
Beyond offering job opportunities to local youths, he is also open to hiring elderly individuals in his barbershops. As a CENTEX alumnus, Akmal extends opportunities to other CENTEX graduates to work with him as they embark on their journeys to shape a brighter future.
Today, the SegakCut Barbershop brand proudly stands with an average of 7,000 customers across all branches each month.
Humble beginnings
Born into a humble family, Akmal, the second of 10 siblings, became the backbone of support for his family as the eldest son. During school, Akmal and his younger brothers often faced reprimands from teachers for having relatively long hair when entering school sessions.
He explained that his father had to prioritize spending on his siblings’ education, including school fees, books, and stationery, over trimming their hair. The same applied to school uniforms and shoes. Akmal recounted his father saying that if the school attire still looked good and fit, there was no need to buy new ones.
“To sustain the family, my father would gather vegetables daily to sell. He also collected empty cans to sell. Even though we earned RM10 a day, that amount meant a lot to us as a family. However, my father’s earnings had to be spent on more crucial matters, like groceries. That’s why my siblings and I often went to school with less-than-neat hair.
“Despite having long hair, we could still attend school, unlike without paying fees or for books. Without those, we wouldn’t be able to go to school,” Akmal explained.
When Akmal reached Form Four, his father suggested, “Akmal, how about learning to cut hair? This way, we can cut costs in that area. You can help me trim your siblings’ hair.”
Taking his father’s advice to heart, Akmal took the initiative to work part-time at a barbershop near his home. With the skills he acquired, he not only trimmed his siblings’ hair but also assisted his friends, who frequently sought Akmal’s help in cutting their hair.
Even after completing the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM), Akmal continued working as a hairdresser. A year later, in 2018, his father was involved in an accident that left him in a coma for three days. During his father’s hospitalization, Akmal became the sole provider for his mother and other siblings. Simultaneously, he enrolled in a course offered by CENTEX in the field he found suitable—Hair Design. With strong determination, Akmal believed he needed to further sharpen his knowledge in the field to succeed. Armed with unwavering resolve, he completed a one-year course at CENTEX in 2019.
Akmal’s journey to success against all odds
After completing his studies, Akmal received an offer to attend an interview for a position as a prison officer. Gratefully, he succeeded in securing the position and was scheduled to undergo training on the peninsula.
However, the good news did not capture Akmal’s interest. According to his father, his heart shattered when Akmal expressed his lack of desire to attend the training.
“Akmal told me, ‘Dad, I’ve never asked anything from you before. But may I, just this once, ask you to listen to my request? I want to open my barbershop,'” he said.
At that moment, disappointment engulfed his father’s heart. To him, a career as a hairdresser would not lead to success. So, he challenged Akmal, giving him two months to prove that he could open his shop.
“Because at that time, I was very confident that he would fail. I was certain that he wouldn’t be able to open his shop within two months. Opening a shop is not as cheap as RM1 or even RM1000,” his father said.
To his surprise, Akmal managed to gather the funds in just one month, earned through his work as a hairdresser.
From that moment on, his father regretted his mindset. He remembered that when he was stranded in the hospital due to an accident just a few years ago, Akmal was the one supporting the family with his income as a hairdresser.
Subsequently, his father assisted Akmal in finding a suitable shop to rent and helped him with the process of registering licenses and other matters.
According to Akmal, he wanted to open his shop because he had grown tired of working for others as a hairdresser. In addition to wanting to support his family, he expressed his desire to share his skills and blessings with the local youth.
A Journey from One Shop to 15 Branches
In 2020, Akmal successfully opened his first shop in Siburan, thanks to his savings. Encouraged by the initial success, his father suggested expanding due to the growing interest among young people seeking employment. With two thriving shops in Siburan, Akmal continued to broaden his business by establishing new branches in Serian, Kota Samarahan, Sri Aman, and Batu Kawa. Despite facing challenges during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Akmal remained undeterred, attributing his resilience to the unwavering support of his father.
During the lockdowns, his shops were temporarily closed, but this setback didn’t break his spirit to open new branches. Akmal said, “During lockdowns, my father and I strategized to strengthen the business. As soon as the government announced the reopening of shops, we moved forward with new strategies. Several lockdowns didn’t dampen my enthusiasm; they motivated me to assist those in need of employment, especially during times when people couldn’t get haircuts. When our shops reopened, there was a surge of customers. Alhamdulillah, our hard work has paid off, and we now proudly operate 15 branches.”
Crafting Hair with Care and Building a Family Atmosphere
Segakcut Barbershop operates every day with different opening and closing times according to the demand of each area. According to Akmal, shops located within a mall, follow the mall hours, which are from 10 am to 10 pm. For shops situated in older markets, like around Pasar Lama Serian, they open from 8 am to 5 pm, with some extending their hours. However, Akmal shared that if a branch closes early, he advises his staff to assist at other branches. He said, “I want them to enjoy interacting with staff from other branches. Besides helping out, they won’t be stuck in the same atmosphere all the time. I want them to work in a happy environment. I often remind them to consider us as siblings. The same goes for my father; I prefer if they see my father as their own. This way, they will feel more comfortable and trust us. Moreover, I don’t like firing staff. I prefer to address their mistakes until they change. Because if I fire them, they might repeat the same mistakes at a new workplace. So, it’s better if I correct them until they change,” he stressed.
Sharing experiences that taught him during his time as a part-time barber, Akmal mentioned an incident with a customer that became a principle he applies in his business today. While working part-time during his school days, he was once reprimanded for not doing his job properly. He explained, “I was cutting his hair while simultaneously doing other tasks, like checking my phone and chatting with friends. The customer then told me, ‘Can you focus on cutting my hair first before doing other things?'” This incident left a lasting impact on Akmal. He now emphasizes this to his staff because, for him, service delivery is crucial in providing a positive perception of a barbershop. Acknowledging that his mistake was due to entering adolescence, he considers the reprimand necessary. If the customer hadn’t spoken up, he said he might not have realized the importance of delivering quality service to create a positive perception of a barbershop.
Expanding wings across Borneo
Determined to forge ahead, Akmal has boldly decided to expand his Segakcut Barbershop branches across Borneo, spanning from Sarawak to Sabah. In the coming months, he envisions extending the reach of Segakcut Barbershop to Sarikei and Sibu. Beyond that, Akmal harbours a profound aspiration—to establish an academy. Expressing his eagerness to share knowledge, he said that opening an academy would provide a broader platform for those eager to learn, in addition to welcoming anyone interested in working at his establishments. He said, “I never turn away anyone seeking employment in my shop. Even if someone is still in school and wishes to work part-time, I will accept them. Even if someone doesn’t know how to cut hair, I will teach them. The key is their dedication. If they falter along the way, I won’t hinder them. However, my principle is to teach until proficiency is achieved. For staff facing challenges, I will continue to guide them until they change their attitude. I won’t dismiss them. Someday, I aim to establish an academy to continue instructing those passionate about this field.”
Simultaneously, Akmal shared his desire to organize an internal barber challenge among his staff. He expressed optimism that this challenge will motivate employees to strive for excellence. In addition to internal challenges, Akmal also plans to organize a group ride with his staff to Telok Melano. According to Akmal, they are encouraged to bring their non-Segakcut barbershop friends, fostering stronger bonds among them. Akmal added, “During the ride, we will all wear Segakcut Barbershop uniform T-shirts. This indirectly serves as my marketing strategy to promote Segakcut Barbershop.”
Empowering future
Akmal highlighted the wide range of programmes offered by CENTEX, going beyond the hair design and makeup course he had previously taken. He advised young individuals who have recently completed their education or are uncertain about their future path to explore the various programs offered by CENTEX.
“CENTEX offers courses in wiring, welding, tailoring, and more. For young people, don’t waste time idling at home,” he said. “Seize the opportunity to learn and acquire knowledge. Join CENTEX to obtain recognized certificates. It is the platform that will pave the way for your future. With the knowledge gained at CENTEX, success is inevitable.”
Akmal emphasized the importance of asking oneself about the direction they want to take in life. He urged those aiming for an improved standard of living to start their journey by expanding their knowledge.
“Instead of making excuses for inaction, be grateful for every life experience. Every mistake is a lesson. I am thankful for my father’s presence, guiding and supporting me in building my business,” he added.
Furthermore, Akmal highlighted the significance of showing gratitude to others. He expressed his appreciation to CENTEX, Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), Tabung Ekonomi Kumpulan Usaha Niaga (TEKUN), and Sarawak Foundation for shaping him into the person he is today.
“Starting from CENTEX, it has the power to transform someone into something else. Don’t fear facing challenges. If you don’t start now, when will you?” he concluded.
