Penang: Armed with a cherished family recipe, a husband-and-wife duo turned their humble beginnings into a thriving muruku business, attracting customers from both Malaysia and abroad. Idris Alias, 67, and his wife, Fatimah Ishak, 63, from Guar Perahu, here, started their small home-based business in 1984 after she inherited a muruku recipe from her mother-in-law.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fatimah shared that during the early days, she was seven months pregnant, and they only made small batches of the crunchy snack due to limited capital. Initially, orders were taken from friends, and from those modest beginnings, the business flourished under the brand name 'Muruku Bonda'. Nine years ago, they opened a shop in Kubang Semang, funded by profits they had steadily reinvested.

Fatimah highlighted that Muruku Bonda uses natural ingredients, with no artificial coloring and is entirely free from eggs, anchovies, or any animal-based products, making it suitable for a vegetarian diet. Interestingly, over 85 percent of their customers are from the Chinese community, with Chinese New Year being their peak sales period. At one point, they even received orders from Taiwan, which had to be declined due to high shipping costs, although a determined customer flew over to purchase in bulk.

Currently, the couple operates with two frying machines, typically running one on regular days to produce around 150 kilograms of muruku daily, which increases to 200 kilograms during festive seasons. Idris noted that their son and daughter-in-law are now involved in the family business, although limited operating space poses a challenge in meeting growing demand. They had to decline an offer to stock Muruku Bonda in a major convenience store chain.

Despite these challenges, the couple remains determined to expand into a larger facility in the future, with aspirations of passing the business down to their only child. Idris advised young entrepreneurs to understand their products and customers and to have patience, emphasizing the importance of charity and paying zakat for lasting blessings in wealth and health.