Adib Leaves Media World To Empower Small Businesses

By Hamdan Ismail

KUCHING, Dec 21 (Bernama) – Driven by a mission to uplift small businesses in Sarawak, Mohd Adib Othman has traded his decade-long career as a broadcast journalist for entrepreneurship, creating a platform that enables small traders to operate without the weight of high operational costs.

Leveraging a consignment business model, the 44-year-old entrepreneur launched Takeaway 2 in Satok, providing vendors with a rent-free business space in exchange for a monthly commission.

“This model allows small traders to showcase their products without the strain of high operational costs. Our goal is simply to help small businesses grow and expand their market reach,” he told Bernama.

To maintain the quality and safety of products at Takeaway 2, Mohd Adib shared that his team conducts rigorous screenings of vendors. These vendors offer a diverse range of items, including frozen food, dried goods, beverages, and desserts.

“I’m essentially building on the business model pioneered by my sister-in-law, Sharifah Laila Wan Mustafa, who launched the first Takeaway outlet in Kampung Gita, Petra Jaya, in August 2023. Recognising the significant potential of this approach, I decided to embrace the opportunity as well,” he added.

Among Sarawak's media practitioners, Mohd Adib is a well-known figure, having served as TV3's state representative for a decade.

Beginning his journalism career in 2009, he honed valuable skills and gained extensive experience, which now serve as an asset in his entrepreneurial journey.

  “It wasn’t easy for me to leave the media world, but because of my deep passion for business, I mustered the courage to resign in 2021,” he said.

According to Mohd Adib, he was first introduced to the world of business while helping his brother, an electrical contractor, manage their family business.

“As a journalist, I often interacted with various parties and gathered valuable insights. I applied those skills to assist my brother in his contracting business. From there, my interest in business began to grow,” he shared.

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He began operations at Takeaway 2 in March, choosing Satok as its location due to its prominence as one of the city’s key shopping hubs and its accessibility for vendors.

“We are constantly on the lookout for unique, high-quality products to offer our customers. For example, our MD2 pineapple juice is 100 per cent pure with no added sugar. This is part of our ongoing effort to ensure the products we sell meet customer preferences,” he said.

At the same time, Mohd Adib said the success of his business is not solely measured by profits but also by the achievements of the vendors partnering with him.

“With solid support and the right platform, I hope Takeaway 2 can have a positive impact on the local economy and boost the competitiveness of small traders in Sarawak,” he added.

 -- BERNAMA