IPOH - The difficulty in obtaining coconut milk supplies for the preparation of Hari Raya Aidilfitri prompted a disabled man (PWD) to run a food-based business for the past three years.
The owner of Santan M'darat Mohd Firdaus Ismail, 40, said his idea was fully supported not only by his family but also by his closest friends.
"This difficult event to get coconut milk supply happened following the Movement Control Order (MCO) in 2020. At that time, I needed more than 40 kilogrammes (kg) for the preparation of lemang and rendang but I only got about 20 kg.
"From there, the initiative to start this business arose. So the support of my family and friends inspires me," he said when met by Bernama in Kampung Sungai Rokam here, today.
The father of four said he forked out about RM30,000 to buy a coconut milk extraction machine, a coconut grater and other equipment to run the business.
"Apart from the equipment, I also used the money to buy coconuts in bulk from suppliers in Bagan Datuk and Sungai Siput," he said.
The young man from Ipoh who lost his left hand due to an accident in 2006 said he was very grateful because his wife Nurul Artikah Mohamad Ali, 39, and their second son Muhammad Hariz Mohd Firdaus, 13, helped a lot in launching the business.
"My wife and children are my backbone. Every day, both of them will help either from the process of squeezing coconut milk, grating coconuts and packaging," he said.
Asked about the demand for coconut milk ahead of the Aidilfitri festival season, Mohd Firdaus said it has doubled compared to normal days and the average customer is from the surrounding community and friends who run food-based businesses.
"On a normal day, I can sell about 50 to 60 kilogrammes a day, but when it comes to the middle of Ramadan until the Aidilfitri festival, the amount will increase to about 100 to 150kg a day.
"The selling price offered for normal coconut milk is RM8 per kg, concentrated coconut milk is RM18 per kg and RM8 per kg for grated coconut," he said.
Mohd Firdaus said cleanliness and quality are essential factors to ensure the business is able to survive and grow.
"For food production, the most important factor is cleanliness. When our product’s cleanliness is guaranteed, it means that the product lasts longer. In Islam, the people are required to emphasise on cleanliness in any matter," he said.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Hariz said he has been helping his father and mother in the coconut milk business since he was 11 years old.
"I was never forced to help them, on the contrary, I was interested myself. My father gave me encouragement and guidance in making sure I knew about all the processes in the production of coconut milk.
"For me, the process of grating coconut is one of the things I like even though it is quite dangerous and can cause injury to the fingers if not careful," he said.
The Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Raja Chulan former student said he also dreamed of continuing the legacy of the business if he got the consent of his parents.
Meanwhile, a customer Mohd Ariffin Abd Aziz, 70, said one of the main reasons he chose Santan M'darat was because of the quality, cleanliness and reasonable prices offered to buyers.
He added that the coconut milk is used to prepare lemang and rendang which are sold to the surrounding community especially before the Aidilfitri festival.
"The coconut milk here is of good quality and as long as I use it, the food prepared or cooked using this coconut milk is not only tasty but lasts longer," he said. - BERNAMA