Prison cookies fetch sales of RM300,000 this Hari Raya
KOTA BHARU - Orders for handmade Raya cookies by Pengkalan Chepa prison inmates have reached a total sales value of RM300,000 this Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Pengkalan Chepa Prison director, Senior Assistant Commissioner Wan Sani Ab Latiffatiff said the total exceeded last year's sales of RM250,000.
"Usually we would close orders on the first week of fasting, but we decided to open them on the second week after receiving huge demand.
"The cookies were all baked and distributed to customers as ordered," he said when met by Sinar Harian on Thursday.
He said the orders received were from various agencies and private individuals.
The Pengkalan Chepa Prisons cookies have also proudly gained attention from the Kelantan Palace, where they too placed orders.
"Each order from various agencies fetched between RM20,000 and RM30,000.
"Among the popular Raya cookies are almond crunchy, milk semperit, and mazola, prepared by 51 mostly local women prisoners serving sentences for various offences, including drugs," he said.
Sani said that despite having to complete such large orders between two shifts at the prison, the quality of the biscuits was not compromised as only premium ingredients such as butter and quality flour were used to produce the biscuits.
"Six women prison officers were involved in the biscuit-making operations and assisted by inmates. They have also received vaccine shots for food handling.
"Other than bottling it, the biscuits were packed in hampers," he said.
