Ewon launches Sambal Mek Ngoh product, AIM entrepreneur

19 February 2024

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KUALA TERENGGANU: Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Ewon Benedick launched the Sambal Mek Ngoh product, owned by Haslinda Wahab, an entrepreneur of Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) here.

Ewon said the success of the entrepreneur should serve as an inspiration to mothers and other female entrepreneurs in the country to continue achieving success in their respective businesses.

"I understand that initially she (Haslinda) only received funding of RM5,000 to start her sambal business a few years ago as a single mother.

"Today, she has successfully expanded this business with production of up to 40,000 bottles of sambal in one month with monthly sales reaching up to RM400,000.

"I am very proud to launch the Sambal Mek Ngoh product and as a token of my appreciation to her to continue to succeed and be an inspiration to mothers and other entrepreneurs to also achieve success," he said.

He said this to reporters after launching the Sahabat AIM Sambal Mek Ngoh product at Raia Hotel here today.

Also present were AIM Chief Executive Officer Shamir Abdullah Aziz, Field Operations Director Haji Zubairi Mohd Fadzil, and senior AIM officials.

Ewon also advised entrepreneurs, especially those who are still affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, to rise up and strive to recover their businesses.

"We take inspiration from those who have succeeded and were also affected during Covid-19 but rose again quickly because they made the effort and never gave up. They have fallen and risen again like our friend Haslinda," he said.

He further stated that the ministry and agencies under the ministry responsible for entrepreneurial development always practice an open-door policy to assist entrepreneurs or cooperatives in need of help.

"I always welcome anyone who is keen to start a business to come and seek advice from agencies under the ministry such as AIM, Tekun National, and SME Corp.

"This is the role of my ministry and agencies under my ministry like AIM, Tekun National, SME Corp to help micro-enterprises start or expand their businesses.

"In terms of services provided by agencies under my ministry, the door is always open for anyone who wants to venture into or start a business; they can visit any KUSKOP agency."

Meanwhile, Haslinda hopes that her success can be a source of inspiration for female entrepreneurs, especially those struggling with financial issues, so that they can rise up and achieve success in their chosen businesses together.

"Friends of AIM entrepreneurs need to rise up and there is no longer the term of staying at home because we are well aware of the current economic situation; when we delay in rising up, we will fall behind," she said.

She also expressed her appreciation to the ministry and AIM for providing a lot of support and assistance in terms of financing, enabling her to successfully produce the new product Sambal Mek Ngoh.

"AIM has provided me with the opportunity to venture into entrepreneurship, and I need to make the most of that opportunity," she said.

Regarding her business expansion goals for this year, Haslinda said she will be opening another new factory to process sambal because the existing factory cannot accommodate the sambal production due to high demand.