KUALA LUMPUR: A roadside nasi lemak seller who once operated with a foldable table under a large umbrella has grown her business into a full-fledged operation producing up to 15,000 packets a day, in a success story hailed by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.

The minister said Kak Saleha, founder of Nasi Lemak Saleha, began by cooking from home and packing orders herself, even facing occasional enforcement action in the early days.

Encouraged by strong customer demand, she later secured a RM3,000 microfinancing loan from Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) to expand her business.

“Today, after 15 years of perseverance, Nasi Lemak Saleha is no longer just a roadside stall. It has grown into a restaurant with a central kitchen, employing dozens of workers and producing up to 15,000 packets daily,” Sim said.

He noted that the brand is now widely recognised, adding that Kak Saleha represents the kind of entrepreneur the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP) aims to support.

“She has received financing from AIM, support from SME Corp, loans from TEKUN, and was also a recipient of the SME Corp E50 award last year,” he said.

Sim also highlighted the involvement of Kak Saleha’s son, Dr Rizal, a medical doctor who has since joined the family business as Chief Operating Officer after attending training at the National Entrepreneurship Institute (INSKEN).

“He told me the next step is to double their production. To achieve that, they will need easier access to financing to expand their facilities,” Sim said.

“I have instructed KUSKOP agencies to engage with Dr Rizal to explore how we can support their plans to scale up further.”

Sim added that such stories reflect how many successful entrepreneurs begin with humble beginnings.

“My mission in KUSKOP is clear — to ensure small businesses grow into big ones, and big businesses grow even bigger,” he said.