BATU KAWAN: At a time when consumers are complaining about price hike and rotten food at Ramadan bazaars, a trader has chosen to sell a packet of her nasi lemak for a mere RM1.
Norijan Murat, 39, from Taman Cegar, Simpang Ampat here, has been selling the ultimate Malaysian food at the paltry sum when she started her small business outside the Maybank branch in Simpang Ampat here two months ago.
Her two sons, aged 10 and 13, also help her to sell the nasi lemak outside another bank nearby.
When the New Straits Times visited her home yesterday evening, she was busy preparing nearly 200 packets of nasi lemak, which people had "infaq" to nearby mosques and other locations, after news of her went viral on social media.
A packet of her nasi lemak is filled with a generous portion of rice cooked in coconut milk and infused with spicy sambal, ikan bilis, kacang goreng and a quarter of a boiled egg — a joint recipe of her mother and mother-in-law.
Norijan said she was able to make very minimal profit, just to get by with her daily life, by selling the nasi lemak at RM1.
"We are not a well to do family and we truly understand the hardship faced by people like us.
"My husband only works in a factory for four days a week after an accident, earning him RM1,800 a month. With three children (another 6-year-old daughter) and things getting increasingly expensive, I decided to help him out by selling nasi lemak.
"After two months, I saw there was little profit to be made and I am able to help ease my family's burden.
"I am happy to be able to do a bit of charity while running my small business. I believe in sharing my rezeki with others," she said, adding that it was humbling to see that even the poor could afford food on their table.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Norijan also ran a roadside stall selling rice with limited dishes since 2015.
Even then, her customers had always "complained" that she was selling her food at a cheap price.
However, due to the unstrategic location and at the height of the pandemic, she stopped the business.
It has been a year now since she moved to this rented house in Taman Cegar.
Norijan said she did not expect news of her nasi lemak to go viral after it was shared on social media.
"It was the third day of Ramadan. I don't know why on that particular day there was no business at my side even until 11pm.
"Usually, I will sell 50 packets and my sons, 50 packets. On that day, they sold off their 50 packets while my basket was still filled to the brim. I had to donate some while the rest, I brought back home.
"It was then a kind gentleman came and we talked and I did not expect him to share about my RM1 nasi lemak on social media.
"Since then, I have been receiving a steady stream of orders. For those outside Penang who can't come to buy from me, they sent me money for 'infaq'. I believe this is all 'rahmat' Ramadan," she added.
Norijan will have her hands full until the end of the fasting month preparing her nasi lemak to fulfil upfront orders and for 'infaq' during breaking of fast and moreh.
She even had to ask her sisters from Taiping to come and help her out.
For now, she is not selling her nasi lemak outside the bank.
"I used to cook 5kg of nasi lemak a day. Now, I am cooking 20kg and some days even more. I had to borrow a big rice pot from my mother-in-law.
Norijan said, after this, she planned to sell an assortment of fried noodles, also at RM1 each.
Since her news went viral, she has been receiving all sorts of offers and aid.
"A nearby Ramadan bazaar offered me a lot for free. Even the local elected representative had donated kitchen utensils.
"Today (yesterday) I went to collect a big umbrella from Fama for my business after this.
"I just feel so blessed and grateful. I will continue to serve my RM1 meal to ensure many people facing hardship out there can afford a meal," she said.