Entrepreneur Builds RM150,000-a-Month Business From Humble Roadside Start

KUANTAN, April 9 (Bernama) -- Starting with a roadside business under a canopy, a local entrepreneur can now breathe a sigh of relief as his venture records monthly sales of up to RM150,000.

The owner of Sotong Bakar Gergasi Maran Enterprise, Muhammad Hafizudin Muhammad Sarudin, 36, said the success did not come easily, but was the result of a 15-year journey filled with challenges and sacrifices.

The business, which he runs with his wife, was also selected under the Pahang Safe Dining Destination programme organised by Tourism Pahang and has become one of the must-visit spots for tourists heading to Maran.

The Maran native said that in the early stages, he faced difficulties obtaining loans from financial institutions to start the business, but Agrobank was the first to place trust in him through financing of RM5,000.

“From that small amount, I built the business gradually until today, where the total financing I have received is nearly RM150,000. If not for Agrobank, I might not be where I am today,” he said after the Agrobank Upward Migration (AUM) Programme Excellence Aspiration Ceremony here today.

At the event, Muhammad Hafizudin was selected as a recipient of the Job Creation category award.

The father of three said that from operating on a small scale, his eatery now provided employment to about 15 permanent workers and between 20 and 25 part-time workers.

Recalling difficult times, he said the COVID-19 pandemic and floods were the biggest tests he faced, suffering losses of nearly RM300,000 and forcing him to sell his food truck.

“At that time, I truly lost everything. I had to sell my first food truck and start again from scratch by operating under a canopy. During that challenging period, Agrobank once again stepped in to help with additional financing of RM20,000, along with moral support and guidance programmes,” he said.

On future plans, Muhammad Hafizudin said he hoped to expand the Sotong Bakar Gergasi Maran brand to the Kuala Lumpur market within the next one to two years.

Meanwhile, Agrobank president and group chief executive officer Datuk Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin said the implementation of the AUM programme in Pahang involved 23 local entrepreneurs and recorded encouraging achievements.

He said 19 companies had successfully recorded increased sales, with total cumulative sales for 2025 exceeding RM10 million, while seven companies secured additional financing amounting to RM434,000.

“In terms of capacity development, six companies have expanded their business operations through the addition of new assets. In line with this progress, the companies involved have also made strategic investments in assets and modern technology to enhance operational efficiency and competitiveness,” he said.

Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah said four companies had also successfully created job opportunities for 18 individuals within local communities, in line with efforts to strengthen an inclusive economy.

-- BERNAMA