Entrepreneur forced to sell horse to survive tough times

KUANTAN: Desperate for business capital, Aizuddin Abd Razak from Pulau Tawar, Jerantut, about 170 kilometres from here, left with no choice but to sell his horse named ‘Black’ to survive this challenging times.

The 34-year-old young entrepreneur said he decided to sell his five-year-old stallion after more than a month deliberation, apart from taking into account the views of his 24-year-old wife, Sakinah Zaid and several other friends.

He said the price of the black thoroughbred horse started at RM25,000, which he hoped would be sufficient to help him expand his chocolate-coated banana chips online business, which he started in November last year, after the travel agency he worked at ceased operations due to COVID-19.

“With a heavy heart, I have to let go of Black. My last salary at the travel agency was in July last year, one month after I got married. Since then, I have been really frugal in using my savings which is also used for my business.

“Currently, I really need extra money as my wife is due to give birth to our first baby soon. Hence, I decided to sell Black because I have yet to find other ways (to generate income),” he told Bernama when contacted here yesterday.

Jerantut-born Aizuddin said, he started his small-scale banana chips business with only three workers and intended to increase its productivity and packaging aspects by collaborating with a chocolate factory in Damansara, Selangor.

“Apart from having no income all these months, I was tested again when my over 0.04 hectares of banana plantation was damaged by the floods early this year. I accept it as my fate and now in the process to save money to replanting,” he said.

Aizuddin said that since he announced his intention to sell Black via a post on his Facebook yesterday, he received several calls from potential buyers, enquiring about Black, which he describes as loving and very active as the breed is used for horse racing.

Aizuddin said he will ensure the animal continues to get good care and attention from the new owner.

“I hope I can repurchase Black once I am financially stable. My prayer is that our separation is only temporary,” he said.

-- BERNAMA