Amplang: Tawau’s Popular Snack And Tourist Favourite

By Khatijah Jistoh

TAWAU, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- While Terengganu is synonymous with keropok lekor, Tawau in Sabah is famed for its equally iconic keropok amplang.

The round-shaped crackers, available in a variety of flavours and colours and originating from Tawau, have become a signature snack and a must-have souvenir from Sabah.

Kasmah Basiran, 69, a keropok amplang maker from Merotai, said she began making the crackers at home in 2000 and has since expanded to run a factory producing the snacks.

“I started this to earn some extra income for the family and support my husband in raising our six children. In the early days, it was just us making 15 kg of amplang.

“Production grew from 30 kg to 420 kg a day, and now we produce 800 kg daily, with the help of 17 workers, mostly youths from Merotai,” she told Bernama.

According to Kasmah, her keropok amplang comes in a variety of flavours including fish, squid, shrimp, pandan, and the latest chocolate.

“Our amplang factory runs 24 days a month, and demand rises particularly during school holidays and festive seasons, with sales reaching up to one tonne a day.

“At the moment, the crackers are produced manually, and the amplang is then packed in different sizes, namely 1kg, 500g, 100g, and 70g,” she said.

Meanwhile, Kasmah expressed her gratitude for the support provided by various government agencies, including the Fisheries Department, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), the Farmers’ Organisation Board, and Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.

“It’s not only financial assistance; we also receive equipment like frying machines, mixers, and freezers. Some agencies even help with promoting our products,” she said.

Kasmah said that, with the support of government agencies, her amplang products are now sold across Malaysia and have even reached Brunei.

“The effort we put into making amplang not only boosts our family’s income but also introduces Merotai to people across the country,” she said.

On her future plans, Kasmah hoped the government could provide assistance to further expand her amplang factory in Merotai, which would also create more job opportunities for local youths.

-- BERNAMA