BY NURSYAHIDA BOLHASSAN
Who would have thought that by running a kelulut honey business, Sya Rina brand founder, Norina Bunyam, 41, is able to earn up to RM74,400 a year even though the country is going through the Covid-19 pandemic.
For this Lubok Antu-born entrepreneur success didn’t come easy.
“One has to keep on trying till one succeeds. Ten times we may fall, but the eleventh time it’s time for us to get up and try again, and for sure we will succeed,” she said.
As the nutritional content of kelulut honey has been clinically proven to work as a supplement for one’s health, her business has received overwhelming response from the public.
The benefits of kelulut honey are also proven to be effective as it can help treat the health of Norina’s family who have a long history of illnesses that require medication.
“Kelulut honey products have changed my family health for the better, especially for my late grandfather who was told by doctors that he would only survive for a year due to heart disease, double kidney failure, high blood pressure, blood clots and throat cancer.
“However, after a year of consuming kelulut honey three times a day my late grandfather was able to live for five more years at the age of 114, but God loved him more, and he died on November 14, last year.”
A wife, mother, and grandmother, Norina said her products are competitive abroad and are well received outside Malaysia.
“Our products have been marketed in Sabah, Brunei Darussalam and Kalimantan Indonesia, and I also have agents throughout Sarawak,” said Norina.
In fact, she has promoted her products through television shows on TV1, TVS, Astro Awani, and radio in addition to conducting marketing through social media.
Norina has expanded her goods to value-added products like mixed herbal honey, balm, facial moisturising soap, and kelulut chilli sauce.
Talking about the specialty of her product, Norina explained that the kelulut honey that she produces tastes good and is of high quality due to the kelulut bee food factor apart from the fruit flowers and acacia flowers.
“We also plant the ‘Tears of the Bride’ flower tree, the ‘Cat’s Moustache’ tree, and many more so that we can produce very nutritious honey.
“Indirectly, the kelulut bee colony can suck the nutritious honey and then put it in the honey bag.
“After fermentation for 40 to 60 days, we would harvest and produce quality honey that is different from the production of kelulut honey in other areas,” she added.
Sharing her life journey, Norina told of her many challenges she faced since starting the business in 2019, especially in terms of capital, knowledge, marketing, and internet access.
However, she was not easily discouraged but she wisely used the opportunities available by participating in various training courses such as management, packaging, product transformation and product photography courses.
“The challenge that comes is a motivation to succeed and it is not impossible if one day someone can become a successful entrepreneur,” she said.
At the same time, Norina explained that Sya Rina brand products have also been registered under the Malaysia Good Agricultural Practices (MyGAP) and the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIpo).
Meanwhile, approval for halal certification and Food Safety Industry Responsibility (MeSti) certification is in the process, she added.
“With the success of the Sya Rina brand one day, I hope to provide employment opportunities to the villagers and people living nearby.
“My advice to new traders is that we must have principles, always gain knowledge, and strive to establish good relations with any agency to seek assistance, grants or allocations,” she said.
Those interested in her products can contact Norina via Whatsapp 0138939179, Facebook Sya Rinna Brand or make a reservation on the website https://norinabunyamstf.wixsite.com/syarinabrand/shop.
Customers can also go directly to her shop in Kampung Munggu Jabang, Jalan Batu Kaya Lubok Antu which operates Monday to Friday from 8.30 am to 5 pm.
