Transgender nasi lemak seller Jojie Kamaruddin will be celebrating her successful business venture by handing out 100 packets of her product to Kuala Lumpur mosque goers every Friday.
Jojie said her nasi lemak business - made an instant hit due to social media - was bringing her more than RM2,000 daily.
"Therefore I would like to gift 100 packets every Friday to mosques around Kuala Lumpur. My siblings will be in charge of transporting them," she said when Malaysiakini visited her stall recently.
Jojie, who is also a fashion designer and a wedding planner, said she started her current venture after her boutique closed down.
She did not expect the business, located in Jalan Sri Permaisuri, Cheras, to do so well.
However, the branding of the product had brought her much publicity but also brickbats.
"There will be those who are dissatisfied. All entrepreneurs, not just me, need to prepare themselves for this risk," she said.
Authentic nasi lemak
Regardless of opinions on gender identity, Jojie said what not in dispute was that her nasi lemak was "authentic and halal".
"My nasi lemak is authentic, regardless of who cooks it. I am a human being just like you. So the person cooking it is a human being, it is not haram or taboo," she explained.
Customer Mohd Shahrul Ridzuan Sanusi, 30, concurs. He said he would buy up to seven packets of "nasi lemak pondan" at a time.
"The sambal is delicious. The waiting time is about 15 to 20 minutes," sai Shahrul, who was part of a long queue.
M Muniandi, who said that this was the first time at the stall, got to know of "nasi lemak pondan" through social media.
"If it isn't tasty people will not queue for it. I was attracted by the name," said the 53-year-old.
Mother's idea
A packet of basic nasi lemak with eggs, anchovies and cucumber is sold for RM1.80. Side dishes include chicken curry, fried chicken, squid sambal, stingray sambal, chicken rendang and ayam masak merah.
She said the idea of setting up a nasi lemak stall came from her mother who has been in the trade for more than 36 years.
Her mother raised Josie and her 16 siblings by selling nasi lemak after her father retired early due to illness.
When asked if she had a hawker’s license, Jojie replied that she was currently in the process of applying for it from the Kuala Lumpur City Council (DBKL).
"To be honest my business was just for fun, I did not think of applying for a (hawker) license but because the response has been so great, I am currently in the process of applying," she said.
Previously, "nasi lemak anak dara" (the virgin's nasi lemak) became a social media sensation due to its name.
Jojie's stall is open from noon to 7pm every weekday.- Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.