Nasi Kukus Vendor Now Earns RM14,000 A Month With Vending Machine Business In UiTM

Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and WhatsApp for the latest stories and breaking news.

Mohd Hermi Shahuddin, 47, said he no longer has to worry about the uncertain income that troubled him before he applied for the Food Entrepreneur Initiative under the Madani government's IPR programme, which was introduced in March last year, according to Bernama.

However, due to challenges such as unpredictable weather conditions and family commitments, his monthly sales were limited to around RM8,000.

"The business we did before had many challenges, making it difficult to sustain a regular income. There were times when we could not sell any food, especially during heavy rain, resulting in wasted capital and food," he said.

He also told Bernama that he has a nine-year-old child who is disabled, requiring his and his wife's full attention and care.

"If there is a doctor's appointment, my wife and I cannot open for business, so there is no income for us on those days," he explained.

He cooks the food with his wife and restocks the machine regularly throughout the day.

The packeted dishes he now sells through the vending machine include nasi lemak ayam goreng, nasi lemak pandan, nasi ayam pedas, roti kebab daging, meatballs, and chicken popcorn.

"All these foods are sold at RM2 to RM5, and the menu is changed or restocked every six hours to maintain quality and taste," said Mohd Hermi.

He added that he did not have to spend any capital on food preparation or rental, as it is covered by the government for two years.

He also said he can now spend more time with his family, as he can monitor the status of the vending machine through an app on his phone.

"I feel so lucky to have been selected to participate in the IPR programme from thousands of applications received by the ministry.

"This programme certainly opens up new prospects for small entrepreneurs like me to generate income and increase the value of existing sales," he said.