Free 'Nasi Lemak Pondan' For KL Mosque Goers Every Friday

Jojie Kamaruddin, the proud owner of the recently famous 'Nasi Lemak Pondan' stall, has informed that she will be giving out 100 packets of free nasi lemak to Kuala Lumpur mosque goers on Fridays.

"... I would like to gift 100 packets every Friday to mosques around Kuala Lumpur. My siblings will be in charge of transporting them," Jojie told Malaysiakini.

Jojie's nasi lemak gained fame after photos and videos of her stall went viral on social media due to its choice of name.

The stall was only opened a few weeks ago, but she is already making profits up to RM2,000 daily, with customers flocking her shop to get a taste of the viral nasi lemak.

"To be honest my business was just for fun, I did not think of applying for a (hawker) license but because the response has been so great, I am currently in the process of applying," explained Jojie to Malaysiakini.

Jojie, who is a fashion designer and wedding planner by profession, said that the idea to open up the stall came from her mother who used to sell nasi lemak herself.

Her mother was in the trade for more than 36 years.

Jojie explained that she decided to use the name because no matter what other name she uses, people will still call her shop 'Nasi Lemak Pondan' because it is sold by a transgender.

"Jika saya namakan gerai saya Nasi Lemak Dodi, orang tetap akan jerit pondan. Apa pun nama yang saya guna, Sally ke, Minah ke, mereka tetap akan panggil pondan. Baik saya gunakan saja nama itu sebagai nama gerai. (If I were to name my stall 'Nasi Lemak Dodi', people will still shout pondan. No matter what name I use, be is Sally or Minah, people will still call it pondan. So, I might as well use that term to name my stall)," said Jojie when speaking to Malay social news site, Amazing Nara recently.

Pondan is a derogatory Malay word used to refer to transwomen.

While her candid honesty has made her a viral sensation and boosted her sales, there are some people who had apparently said that the nasi lemak she prepares is haram.

"I want to show people that not all pondans are sex workers. I want them to see that we can make an honest living," said Jojie when speaking to Free Malaysia Today (FMT) recently.

She also said that the local transgender community has been shunned, likened to negative behaviour and not treated fairly in terms of employment.

"Mak Nyahs can do what other men or women can do," added Jojie. Mak Nyah is common Malay term used to refer to transwomen.

"My nasi lemak is authentic, regardless of who cooks it. I am a human being just like you. So the person cooking it is a human being, it is not haram or taboo," said Jojie, as reported by Malaysiakini yesterday, 27 March.

Jojie's loyal customers agree with her. While the name may have led them to the stall at first, it is the taste they keeps them going back.

30-year-old Mohd Shahrul Ridzuan Sanusi, told Malaysiakini that he sometimes buys seven packets of nasi lemak at a time.

"The sambal is delicious. The waiting time is about 15 to 20 minutes," said Shahrul.

Another customer said that he found out about 'Nasi Lemak Pondan' through the social media.

"If it isn't tasty people will not queue for it. I was attracted by the name," said 53-year-old M Muniandi.

Jojie also sells classic side dishes like chicken curry, fried chicken, squid sambal, stingray sambal, chicken rendang, and ayam masak rendang.

'Nasi Lemak Pondan' is located in front of Laman Tasik Condominium at Jalan Sri Permaisuri, Cheras. The stall is open from 12pm till 7pm daily.