BY: NAEEM RAFFI
SHAH ALAM, OCT 19: The determination of a teenage girl in helping her poor family by selling nasi lemak at the Maybank, Ampang sidewalk has caught the attention of Hijrah Selangor (HIJRAH).
HIJRAH Professional Services Unit Manager Nur Siti Hazliana Mat Hashim said that she had offered the young girl a lot at Bazaar HIJRAH Bandar Baru Ampang to help her gain more income.
“Coincidentally, the HIJRAH Bazar in Selangor just started operating not far from her house. Our Professional Services Unit (BKP) Executive Nur Arifah Asuan Kailani, managed to track the girl and her father, Ahmad Sanusi, 43, who is now hospitalised and has allowed his daughter to conduct business there every weekend”
“This initiative clearly worked in her favour when her nasi lemak sales increased by onefold. From 60 packets a day at the sidewalk, she now sells 100 packets in less than 2 hours, at the HIJRAH Bazar,” she said to SelangorKini.
Her hard work and determination was brought to light when a picture of her sitting on a chair waiting for customers, started going viral in social media with many good wishes from netizens.
The second child of five siblings started selling nasi lemak on the sidewalk two months ago to ease the family’s burden, when her father fell ill due to heart blockage and could not work anymore.
Meanwhile, her mother is now working in a supermarket to support her children aged 15, 12, 11, 7 and 3 years old.
“HIJRAH, council members and the Assemblyman of that area are looking into other ways to help the family such as business licenses and capital, if the father is still be capable to work later on,” she said.
Prior to this, HIJRAH had introduced HIJRAH Bazaar and offered business sites as a platform for small and medium scale traders in Selangor.
On October 2, HIJRAH officiated the first HIJRAH Bazaar in Bandar Baru Ampang consisting of over 100 sites provided, and 60% selling wet items.
HIJRAH Executive Chairman Datuk Mansor Othman said, HIJRAH Bazaar will be extended across Selangor in stages and participation will be opened to everyone who is interested and not limited to HIJRAH members only.