Sabah Entrepreneurs Honoured for TikTok Shop Success

20 May 2025

KOTA BELUD: Five Sabah entrepreneurs were honoured by TikTok Shop for their outstanding achievements in digital entrepreneurship during the TEKUN Madani Carnival at Kadamaian Square, here, last Thursday.

Presented in collaboration with TEKUN Nasional, the recognition highlighted the entrepreneurs’ effective use of TikTok Shop to grow their businesses and strengthen their brand presence online.

Sharphinosbrand, Queyun Tuhau, Sambal MENAQ, and Atiya Hijab received the Sabah Aspirational Entrepreneur Award 2025, while Kita Shop Sabah was conferred the Sabah Star Award 2025.

The awards, presented by Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick, honoured TEKUN entrepreneurs who demonstrated strong performance and adaptability in digital entrepreneurship, particularly through TikTok Shop.

Iranmal Kasan of Sharprhinosbrand

Among the recipients was Iranmal Kasan, 38, founder of Sharphinosbrand – a business specialising in custom sublimation jerseys. He was recognised for his consistent digital engagement, having hosted over 140 live sessions on TikTok Shop between March and April, averaging two sessions daily.

“We stayed consistent and focused. Each live session is not just about selling products, but about building trust and relationships with our customers,” said Iranmal.

“This award is very meaningful for us. It shows that hard work and persistence in digital marketing really pays off, and it encourages us to continue improving.”

Emilhan Mokhtar of Kita Shop Sabah

Emilhan Mokhtar, 31, founder of Kita Shop Sabah – a local brand known for its Sabah pearl accessories – received the Sabah Star Award 2025. The business recorded over 4,000 unit sales via TikTok Shop in the two-month period.

“I’m truly grateful for this recognition. It represents the dedication of the entire team, and the power of using the right digital strategy,” Emilhan said.

He added that support from TEKUN Nasional and collaboration with TikTok Shop have played a key role in the brand’s growth, and he hopes the award will inspire more local entrepreneurs to embrace digital tools.

Other recipients included Queyun Tuhau, who received the award after garnering over 300,000 engagements through livestreams and short-form videos on TikTok. Sambal MENAQ attracted more than 170,000 views from just two videos over the same span, while Atiya Hijab produced over 100 videos across March and April.

The awards aim to encourage innovation, foster healthy competition, and strengthen collaboration between TikTok Shop and TEKUN Nasional, while underscoring the growing impact of digital entrepreneurship in Sabah’s business landscape.