The Star Section: Technology Ad Value: RM 47,105 26-Jul-2021 Size : 936cm2 PR Value: RM 141,315

ONE PURCHASE TO SPARK A THOUSAND HOPES ONE PURCHASE TO SPARK A THOUSAND HOPES PLUS rest service area vendors, workers and community suppliers count on our support to survive.

IT may not seem like much but vdien I can. when you buy something from one “This is one of the many challeng­ of the 600 business partners at the 工 PEMBELIAN es which life throws at you and rest service areas (RSA) along the while we don't know when the end PLUS North-South Expressway you is in sight, hard times won't last for­ are not only helping die vendors ever. I hope people will still suppon but igniting hope for their workers the RSA along the highway when and their families, as well as local we can travel again," he said. suppliers many of whom are from nearby B40 communities. Cannot open shop These stall owners are finding it hard to survive as business is down "In the past, it was only quiet dur­ by 60% to 80%, severely impacted ing the fasting month. Nov^ it feels by travel restrictions and closed like RSA stalls are hidden away in a state borders. comer and people have forgotten Extend a hand of support so that us," said Nizamuddin Ahmad, 54. they can have better days ahead. This is the first time in 2R years as a PLUS business partner chai Closing before dusk Nizamuddin has not been able to open for business. This is because who would have guessed that selling i而u strong (water cala­ Nur Akmal Alias, 40, was a qualified bash), mats and bamboo handicraft software engineer? is not considered essential services. She became one of the pioneer 'Still, it is a blessing to take a business owners at the RSA in Nur Akmal Alias' keropok lekor business is down by 90% as people are not allowed to travel. - Photo taken break and do some farming in the Perasing, Chukai, on the way to before the pandemic last two months,“ he said. Terengganu, selling keropok lekor (a Nizamuddin has been involved in type of fish cracker) under the Two years maximum the craft industry for over two dec­ Mutiara brand in 2014. ades, and has received recognition To run her own business, she Yin Chee Kong was just 18 when from Tourism Perak for promoting even turned down an offer to pur­ he first started helping out at his local arts and crafts. sue a Master's degree in Britain. father's stall in RSA Ulu Bemam “People used to think operating a Her business grew steadily and at (South) near Tanjong Malim, shop in the north bound RSA Sungai its peak in 2019, she had more than Selangor. Perak was akin to having a gold 40 customers a day, especially dur­ "My father, Yin Thyen Chun, then mine. People would travel from ing weekends and festivals when 45, took the opportunity to sell food afar just to buy my labu strong her stall was open till midnight at the RSA after a friend told us from Sungai Perak - we were that These days, she would be lucky to about it in 1994.1 was working in famous!" have five people buying her ker- Kuala Lumpur and later I relocated Three of his five workers have opok lekor and her stall closes for to help my father as he was getting stayed on. His older son, aged 24, is the day just before it gets dark. on in age. following in his footsteps and help­ 空les are down by almost 90% Wy brother and I now take turns ing him at the shop while his young­ due to the pandemic as people are to look after the stall while my er son, aged 20, is in university. not allowed to travel. I still retain father drops by twice a week," said “My suppliers are also having a my three employees who now work Yin, who is 45 this year and has hard time as the villagers can't sup­ in shifts. I really pity them ifl were three primary school-going chil­ Yin Chee Kong with his father Yin Thyen Chun. 'We are giving ourselves ply the products and (here are not to shut down operations so it has dren. two years for things to improve,' said Chee Kong. enough buyers. The bulk of my never crossed my mind to give up," There are seven workers who sales come from the RSA as my said Nur Akmal who has three chil­ work in rotation. two years for things to improve," increased, especially oil and eggs, business is still old school and hard dren aged eight, 11 and 18, and The Uncle Yin's Noodles stall is said Yin. and the supply chain is also prob­ to make the transition to online, maintains a cheerful outlook well-known for its mee kicap, and lematic as you need permits to cross “PLUS has been managing the despite the bleak circumstances” also offers curry laksa, noodle soup 500 customers down to 20 borders. On the other hand, I can't RSAs very well and all the SOPs are Her bestseller is the fish cracker and rice with dishes. just raise the price of my food as we in place so customers can shop safe­ made from tamban fish. “Gone are the days when we had After 17 years of hard work run­ depend fully on the lorry drivers ly;" said Nizamuddin. 1The taste is really quite special, up to 200 customers or more per ning his nast kandar business in who stop at the RSA," he said, add­ and my family's homemade prod­ day as currently, only lorry drivers RSA Ayer Keroh, Chandran ing that regulars get a loyalty card Do our part ucts are certified halal by Jakim," and those working in the logistics VythiaUngam has successftilly which entitles them to a discount. said the eldest of 10 siblings. industry ply the highway. established a name for himself, and Six of his fellow RSA vendors When the country advances to To make ends meet, Nur Akmal 'The RSA used to be so lively and his stall is well-known for its nasi have already folded and on the day Phases 3 and 4 of the National has shifted her focus online where we enjoyed high traffic, but nowa­ goreng udang (prawn fried rice) and of this interview, Chandran said Recovery Plan, local travel will sure­ she gets most of her business now. days, we are happy to have 20 to 30 nasigoreng kambing (mutton fried that only four shops were open for ly pick up. So if you ever find your­ "I've learnt a lot about managing customers daily while weekends rice). business. self on the PLUS highways - espe­ my emotions and stress in the past are even quieter,“ he added. “I consider my staff to be my The challenge now is staying cially now due to vaccination one year. PLUS has been very sup­ A plate of noodles now costs RM6 strongest asset as it was thanks to afloat. I try to reduce costs by offer­ appointments or other essential portive by halving the rent and which is still very reasonable com­ their hard work that we managed ing more a la carte dishes instead travel purposes - do stop by the arranging online courses for ven­ pared with 27 years ago when it to do so well. During peak season and opening staggered hours. I've RSAs to suppon our local vendors. dors. was RM2.30, such as festivals or holidays, we had to cut my workers' pay but they You can even use the “But what we need most are cus­ Despite his own difficulties, Yin served up to 500 diners per day and are happy to still have a job. I tried #OrderDiSini feature on the PLUS tomers as even one single sale feels sorry for his workers and has didn'l even have time to sit down to to look at other ways to do business mobile app, downloadable from makes a difference due to its ripple maintained their salaries. eat. like using food delivery services but Google Play Store and Apple App effect. “One thing this MCO has taught 'Tliese days we can barely sell 20 for an RSA stop, it's just not feasible. Store, to order ahead. urve always believed that no mat­ me is that you must have money set plates of rice in a day but I am not “As an entrepreneur, I used to ter how hard things get, after the aside for a rainy day Last year, giving up when I think of my work­ focus on how to make my business For the latest on PLUS highways, storm comes the rainbow so I still after the first round of MCO it ers who have stuck by me through more profitable. With this pandem­ visit www.plus.com.my or follow trudge on in the hopes of better wasn't so bad but now, we are dip­ thick and thin. ic, we have to help each other, and I them on Facebook, Instagram and days to come," added Nur Akmal. ping into our savings. We are giving ^The price of ingredients has try to contribute to food banks Twitter.

Nizamuddin Ahmad with his labu sayong (water calabash). He is not able to open his shop because his ware is not considered essential.- Photo taken before the pandemic