30/05/2026

LYFE SATURDAY | MAY 30, 2026

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From home-based roots, Saffiya Bakery breaks into Japan, Jordan markets

HER business started small from home with a capital of RM500 to produce 20 packs of golok bread or regular bread sprinkled with sugar and 10 jars of pelangi or rainbow cookies every weekend. But now, entrepreneur Farah Hanim Ngah can smile proudly as her Saffiya Bakery products have successfully penetrated overseas markets, including Japan and Jordan, thus proving that small and medium enterprises can grow further with wider market support and opportunities. The 41-year-old entrepreneur said the business, which started around 2012, was initially run part time while she was still working as a quantity surveyor, before she gave up her professional career to focus on the food business full-time. “Initially, I only made rainbow cookies and biscuits on a small scale for friends and customers around Batu Pahat, Johor. “But when the orders increased, and I could not fulfil them, I decided to focus entirely on this business,” she told Bernama when met at the Benteng Peserai Business Complex recently. Farah said Saffiya Bakery’s production capacity has grown more than 10 times since the initial stage, as it now produces over 250 packs of bread and biscuits daily to meet customer demand. She said apart from being well received in the local market, including the Klang Valley and northern Peninsular Malaysia, its rainbow cookie products also receive online orders from customers in Hokkaido, Japan and Amman, Jordan. She said her hard work has borne fruit, as she also received support from government agencies, including equipment

assistance from the Batu Pahat District Agriculture Department, the Johor State Agriculture Department and Perbadanan Usahawan Johor Sdn Bhd. She said assistance, such as mixers, bread-baking machines and frying machines, has helped increase production capacity, thereby strengthening her business’s competitiveness. One of her biggest challenges occurred during the Covid-19 pandemic, when demand fell to the point that business operations were close to ceasing, she noted. However, she said the innovation of producing dried bread ( roti kering ) in various flavours indirectly helped save the business and opened up new market segments. “Now, dried bread with flavours such as chocolate, sugar-margarine, peanut and sugar cheese are among the most popular products besides sugar bread and golok bread,” she said. Farah said the business’s growth has also enabled her to expand her operations by opening two premises, namely at the Benteng Peserai Business Complex and the Mara Batu Pahat Arcade Building. She now intends to open a cafe focused on affordable bread as a step toward further expanding her business and increasing employment opportunities in the local area. Apart from direct sales to customers, she also accepts orders for birthday parties, school banquets, wedding souvenirs and seasonal orders in conjunction with Ramadan and Syawal. Farah is also active in helping the local community by supplying food products to religious schools and orphanages around Batu Pahat.

RM Corner: Where food unites Malaysians I N the early days of opening their restaurant here, the married couple who owned RM Corner found it difficult to attract Muslim o Local diners drawn to eatery run by married couple, thanks to delicious meals, cheap prices Customers from all walks of life eat and enjoy the food here.

customers as many mistakenly assumed the food was non-halal because the husband’s appearance resembled that of a Vietnamese, while his wife was a Malaysian Chinese. But that was in the past. Today, the eatery operated by Ramli Musa, 56, and Nur Misha Yoon Abdullah, 52, has become a gathering place where Malaysians of different races and religions sit together to enjoy Chinese-style dishes, especially the various noodle specialties. Reflecting on their journey, Ramli said the restaurant began operating in 2005, shortly after they got married. However, during the first two years, they struggled to attract Muslim customers who remained doubtful about the halal status of the food. “There was a time when people thought I was a Vietnamese worker. In fact, my wife was praised for being clever enough to hire a ‘foreign worker’ who could cook excellent Chinese food. Even today, I still laugh whenever I think about it,” he said in a recent interview with Bernama. Ramli, who previously worked as a chef at a three-star hotel in Ipoh, also revealed their restaurant was once “raided” by officers from the Islamic religious department following complaints alleging they were selling non-halal food. “It happened sometime in 2010, but when the religious department officials inspected our premises, they were convinced the allegations were unfounded and in the end, they even stayed to enjoy a meal at our eatery,” he said. It was only after that incident Muslim customers began visiting the restaurant regularly. Operating from Monday to

“Nowadays, people in our society don’t mind sitting together. As long as the food is delicious, reasonably priced and worth the portion size, people will come,” he said. Tronoh state assemblyman Steven Tiw Tee Siang, who is often seen dining there, also praised RM Corner as a symbol of unity that should serve as an example to others. “I see RM Corner as offering more than just food to fill the stomach… it is also a way to unite hearts. Usually, when people gather around the dining table, all differences disappear, leaving only feelings of mutual respect, affection and happiness,” he said.

Saturday, from 6.30am to 2pm, RM Corner has gained attention through social media and built a loyal customer base. “Here (in RM Corner), Malays, Chinese and Indians can sit together at the same table, chatting while enjoying breakfast. This is the Malaysia we want – harmonious and respectful of one another,” said Ahmad Sohaimi Jamaluddin, 67, a regular customer, adding he enjoys the atmosphere and the delicious food. Another customer, 68-year-old Y. Augustine, said the family-friendly environment and affordable prices make RM Corner his preferred choice.

Different types of breads and pastries are on display at Saffiya Bakery. – PIC FROM INSTAGRAM @SAFFIYA_BAKERY

Ramli (left) and Nur Misha run RM Corner together. – PICS FROM BERNAMA