18/04/2025

FRIDAY | APR 18, 2025

6

Homegrown cookie enterprise reaching for the stars

KUALA LUMPUR: The success of Mak Rusmah Cookies, a Kampung Baru-based business founded in 1985, can be attributed to the generosity of its late founder, Rusmah Makum, and the quality of her festive cookies and traditional treats. The business began with kuih bangkit , a traditional cookie made using a recipe Rusmah learnt during a course she attended in Keramat in the early 1980s alongside the mother of the Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin. Today, Mak Rusmah Cookies is managed by Rusmah’s granddaughter Nur Farah Nasaruddin, with the company producing a wide selection of both modern and traditional treats. “My late grandmother was always generous in sharing her knowledge and recipes with her staff. In fact, many of the festive cookie entrepreneurs in Kampung Baru today are former employees of Mak Rusmah Cookies,” she said in an interview with Bernama. Rusmah, who died last year at the age of 85 due to kidney complications, left behind a legacy that Nur Farah is determined to take onto the international stage. Nur Farah grew up hearing stories about the early days of Mak Rusmah Cookies from the late matriarch, who was born and raised in Kampung Baru. “In the early stages, my grandmother started on a small scale at home using three small electric ovens and was assisted by two workers. Initially, she only took orders during the festive season. But later, the business operated year-round selling traditional cookies, growing to the point of being able to hire 20 workers,” she said.

o Granddaughter of founder determined to continue legacy and expand brand nationwide

from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Kelantan, Johor, Perlis and even Singapore. In addition, wholesalers also buy from our shop.” Nur Farah said she also learned from her grandmother the art of warmly interacting with every customer. “Grandma remembered every customer who ever came to the shop. During her lifetime, she would sit in the chair in front of the house, treating each customer like a child or a friend. Her smile never faded. God willing, I will continue her legacy,” said the eldest of three siblings. As for her future hopes, Nur Farah said she aspires to elevate the brand nationally while preserving the heritage of traditional cookies and keeping such treats from fading into obscurity. “I also hope to enter international markets and plan to open the shop year-round,” she added. While offering 22 varieties of cookies, Nur Farah said semperit , mazola, pineapple tarts, almond London, makmur and suji Brunei

Reflecting on what made Mak Rusmah Cookies stand out, Nur Farah said her late grandmother placed strong emphasis on both quality and quantity, key factors in building and maintaining a loyal customer base. “Grandma always reminded us to fill up the jars fully, ensuring there is no space for the cookies to move around. “Otherwise, my grandmother would ask the workers and me to refill the cookie jars, with each jar usually containing more than 60 pieces,” she said, adding that she began helping her grandmother during her early 20s and eventually took on the business full-time after the passing of her family members and as her grandmother’s health began to decline. She expressed pride in continuing her late grandmother’s legacy and is grateful that customers have remained loyal despite the business changing hands. “Alhamdulillah , many of grandma’s customers have remained loyal until now. We have customers

Nur Farah with two of the best-selling products made by Mak Rusmah Cookies. – B ER N AMA P I C

wholesale rates, as most of our customers resell the cookiese,” she said. With market prices now ranging from RM35 to RM40 per jar, Mak Rusmah Cookies continues to offer an affordable alternative. Nur Farah said Mak Rusmah Cookies produced 9,000 jars of festive cookies this year with the help of 15 workers, adding that the highest recorded sales peaked at 25,000 jars between 2011 and 2016.

were the top picks among customers. While most businesses have raised prices in response to the rising cost of raw materials, Mak Rusmah Cookies has maintained its original pricing, ranging from RM15 to RM27 per jar, depending on the size. “When we first started, a jar of cookies containing over 60 pieces was sold at RM12. Over the years, prices have gradually increased in line with rising costs. However, we still offer affordable prices, including

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