Nasi Kukus Vendor Now Earns RM14,000 A Month With Vending Machine Business In UiTM
Mohd Hermi Shahuddin said he no longer has to worry about the uncertain income that troubled him when he was a roadside seller.
By May Vin Ang — 29 Apr 2024, 03:30 PM
A nasi kukus vendor's monthly sales has increased to RM14,000 after joining the government's People's Income Initiative (IPR) programme to start a vending machine business
Before starting the vending machine business, the father of four said he ran a roadside stall in Bandar Puncak Alam and catered events
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.
Now, Mohd Hermi operates a vending machine on the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Puncak Alam campus
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.
Mohd Hermi said the IPR programme has been beneficial not only for him as an entrepreneur, but also the students, providing them with a convenient option to buy ready-to-eat food at reasonable prices
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.
