A nasi kukus vendor, Mohd Hermi Shahuddin, 47, has experienced a remarkable turnaround in his monthly income after joining the People’s Income Initiative (IPR). Through the Inisiatif Usahawan Makanan (Insan) programme, his sales have now surpassed RM14,000 per month, providing his family with long-term financial stability.
Image credit: Bernama
Turning challenges into new opportunities
Before joining the programme, Shahuddin ran a modest roadside food stall in Bandar Puncak Alam, Selangor, while also taking catering orders for local events. However, unpredictable weather and the need to care for his 9-year-old daughter with special needs often disrupted his work, limiting his monthly earnings to below RM8,000.
“Sometimes heavy rain meant we couldn’t sell anything, and other days we had to close the stall for our daughter’s medical appointments. It was hard to sustain a steady income,” he said.
Image credit: Bernama
Vending machine business brings steady income
Under the IPR, initiative introduced by the Madani Government through the Ministry of Economy, Shahuddin and his wife, Fadilah Hanum Abu, now operate a food vending machine at UiTM Puncak Alam’s Kolej Angsana 2. The vending machine offers a variety of freshly prepared meals such as nasi lemak ayam goreng, nasi lemak pandan, roti kebab, and more, priced between RM2 to RM5.
“The best part is we didn’t have to pay equipment or rental costs, which the government covers everything for two years. It really eases our burden and helps us focus on quality,” he shared.
UiTM leads by example in empowering local entrepreneurs
Professor Dr Ahmad Taufek Abdul Rahman, Rector of UiTM Selangor, shared that the campus is the first public university to launch vending machines under the IPR Insan programme. Currently, nine vending machines are operating at UiTM Puncak Alam, with one more set to begin soon.
Image credit: Kolej Rafflesia/Angsana, UiTM Puncak Alam (Facebook)
The Ministry of Economy, in collaboration, with UiTM’s Student Affairs Division, also provides entrepreneurship training to 43 IPR participants nationwide , covering financial literacy and business skills.
Introduced in March last year by Economy Minister Mohd Rafizi Ramli, the IPR vending machine programme aims to empower 5,000 local entrepreneurs by offering fully sponsored vending machines and covering rental fees of RM600 to RM800 monthly for two years, helping small business owners like Shahuddin build sustainable and independent sources of income.
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