09/06/2025

MONDAY | JUNE 9, 2025

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Malaysian Paper

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Hobby turns into thriving business

KUALA LUMPUR: A passion for keeping ornamental fish, which began at the age of 10, served as the starting point for Logeswaran Arumugam, 38, who now runs an aquarium business under his company, SLF Pearl Capital Sdn Bhd. Logeswaran founded the firm in Jalan Reko, Kajang in 2021, based on a desire to share his passion with the community, using an initial capital of about RM300,000 that was raised independently. “The company (partners) share an interest in ornamental fish, which inspired us to turn our hobby into a business. “We want to provide a wide range of aquarium product options for enthusiasts,” he told Bernama in a recent interview. Logeswaran co-manages the business with his two brothers, Perakash Arumugam and Sakthi Vel Arumugam. He said customer response has been encouraging, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, with around 40 aquariums of various sizes priced between RM1,500 and RM13,500 sold monthly. Logeswaran also said effective marketing o Shop selling ornamental fish, aquariums and servicing landscape ponds achieves annual revenue of RM1.8m

Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad, the family of the late Datuk Onn Jaafar and Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. Most notably, His Majesty the King of Malaysia Sultan Ibrahim is also a fan, with special orders placed through the state government office every Aidilfitri. Shamsul is now passing his knowledge to his third son to ensure the art of making halwa maskat continues beyond his generation. “I learned from my mother, who learned from her ancestors. I want this heritage to live on. People may see it as just a sweet but for us, it’s a legacy.” arowanas and freshwater stingrays, with prices ranging from as low as RM3 up to RM16,000 each. Logeswaran holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (Control and Instrumentation) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and has over 13 years of experience in engineering and real estate. He also secured business financing from several local banks, guaranteed by Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Bhd (SJPP), to further strengthen operations. “When we received RM150,000 financing from Agrobank in April last year, we were able to increase inventory, expand research and development and introduce new products such as hardscape,” he said. Additionally, new financing from RHB and Maybank will be utilised to fund the move to the new premises, which is expected to cost approximately RM450,000 for renovations and inventory. The company will also expand its fish pond building and services team to meet growing demand. “My advice to those wanting to start a business is to plan first, have a solid business foundation and not rush to expand. “Always be ready to implement plans and strategies, but only expand when it’s proven to be suitable. “Financially, organise all documents and records well so banks can easily accept them. Look for banks supported by SJPP to easily access funds without needing collateral,” he said.

Logeswaran said he plans to expand his fish pond building and services team to meet growing demand. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

2012, output has now grown to 800kg during festive seasons, a testament to the rising popularity of halwa maskat . However, due to the intense commitment involved, Shamsul only makes it once a month. “To produce authentic halwa maskat , you need to thoroughly mix flour, ghee , rock sugar, cardamom and almonds continuously for hours. Most importantly, the wok and spoon must be made of copper to ensure it retains its colour and doesn’t turn dark,” he explained. Shamsul’s homemade halwa maskat is not only a local favourite, but has also found its way to the tables of prominent national figures. Among his regular customers are Women, shop also offers services for building and maintaining landscape fish ponds, aquarium rentals and professional maintenance for existing aquariums. To date, the company has served 9,215 customers, sold 14,711 fish and 376 aquariums, maintained 706 aquariums and 279 fish ponds, as well as built or renovated 32 fish ponds. Among the popular ornamental fish species at his shop are tetras, koi, goldfish, “super red”

strategies have enabled the company to achieve rapid growth year after year. “In 2024, sales doubled compared with the previous year, reaching total revenue of RM1.8 million. This year, we aim to double that achievement,” he said, adding that there are plans to move the operations to a larger premises that would combine the shop with a cafe. In addition to selling ornamental fish, the

Couple on mission to preserve sweet tradition BATU PAHAT: Mention halwa maskat , a sticky sweet believed to have originated from the Middle East, and many would picture it as a traditional delicacy from the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia. and time-consuming, the couple remains steadfast in their commitment. “We’ll keep doing it for as long as we can. This isn’t just about business, it’s about preserving a heritage that is on the brink of being forgotten,” said Shamsul when met by Bernama.

However, in Kampung Bintang, Batu Pahat, a husband-and-wife duo are diligently preserving the legacy of this treat, not merely for commercial purposes but also to ensure that its heritage remains among future generations. For Shamsul Bahri Ahmad, 64, and his wife Fauziah Hassan, 55, halwa maskat is more than just a confection, it represents familial love, history and perseverance. Although the process of making it is intricate

According to him, although halwa maskat is often associated with the Malay community, its roots can be traced back to Muscat in Oman, where it was once considered a royal delicacy during the era of the Malay Sultanate. Over time, the local community adapted the recipe, infusing it with flavours and ingredients that better suit the local palate. Starting with a production of just 200kg in

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