Kajang by-election and its effect on small businesses

By-elections are often perceived as the period where game changing plans are put into action. These plans are expected to bring in diversity and improvisation.

For small business operators, what do by-elections and the change of political scenario means to them?

Kajang is a district strategically located and offers abundance of business opportunities for its locals. We spoke to a satay stall operator, a nasi lemak seller and a biscuit shop operator.

They all have more than one thing in common: that they never expect anything from anyone, that they paved their way to success independently and the ups and downs of political condition in this capital district of Ulu Langat did not affect the will and the facade for their small business.

Nyok Lan Satay, Restoran Malaysia

Restoran Malaysia, which stood sturdily for over four decades, has evolved in terms of its business strategies to suit the growing challenge of urbanisation in Kajang.

For Chai Wai Kuen, who has been running this family business along with other family members said, the success of Restoran Malaysia is really due to the hard work of her ancestors who initially were seamstresses.

Wai Kuen and her family share their gratitude with Haji Samuri and his relative for their guidance in putting Nyok Lan Satay to where they are now.

Wai Kuen also said that after all these years staying in Kajang, the ups and downs of the political condition of this district have yet to affect her family business. Having said that, she would not mind having someone in power to help ease the congestion in this town.

Warung Nasi Lemak Misran, Kampung Sungai Sekamat

Misran Ibrahim has been working diligently to make ends meet for him and his family. His mother taught him the secret to good nasi lemak when he was a teenager. And today, he has been operating his nasi lemak stall for 18 years.

Misran said he is very independent when it comes to making ends meet with his business. He has always been very independent, standing on his own two feet, without relying to any one or any association to assist him and his business to flourish. This include venturing and clearing what once seem to be a forest like village to a now urban housing area.

Kwong Sang Woh, Jalan Tukang

Siew Pak Chong grew up in his family’s biscuit shop that has been in existence for more than a hundred years. Ah Chong, 82 years old has been selling over a hundred types of biscuits since he was 9 years old. Today, he is glad that he has witnessed a vast development of his hometown that contributes to the success of his business.

Ah Chong, like most of the small business operators in Kajang, paved his way to success in business independently. Currently, his wish for Kajang is for it to be properly developed.