PERMATANG PAUH: The local version of butter cookies, kuih samperit or semperit, is commonly served to guests for Raya.
However, graduate Siti Hajar Yusoff, 27, has decided to take the offering of this traditional favourite up a notch by introducing a variety of samperit, namely, cornflakes, chocolate cornflakes, chocolate and cheese.
Apart from the five types of samperit (including its original version), Hajar also makes oat finger cookies, kidney-shaped cookies, ice-cream biscuit, kuih makmur and almond London.
This young entrepreneur can produce up to 2,000 jars of kuih raya during the festive season.
“I ventured into this business, following in the footsteps of my mother, Hambiah Din, 63, who stopped making samperit due to health reasons.
“She used to produce samperit and fulfil orders from around Permatang Pauh. I used to bring back some cookies to share with my university friends.
“I’m now carrying on my mother’s legacy. I have so far created 10 recipes of cookies and received high number of orders for them,” she said.
Hajar said she was at first reluctant to continue her mother’s business, but gave in to the relentless persuasion of her siblings.
“I didn’t like baking cookies as I didn’t like playing with flour, but I couldn’t bring myself to see my mother’s business being closed down as this kuih has its own following.
“With my mother’s original recipe, I used up my savings to develop the brand,” said the History and Islamic Studies graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
She said some of the recipes were created through experiments, while others by accident.
“For instance, I was baking the kidney-shaped cookies when I accidentally spilled some cornflakes on them. Some customer who came to buy cookies from my shop told me it tasted good after giving it a try. They decided to order the newly-created cookies,” she said.
She said she received the recipe for almond London from a customer who came to buy samperit.
Hajar said she was able to rent a shop and hired four staff to help her with the baking process.
She also engaged 50 sales agents around the state.
“I would send jars of cookies to schools and offices to introduce my brand and scout for sales agents,” she said.
She said she had applied for financial aid to buy a samperit-making machine from the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry through the Integrated Agriculture Development project (IADA).
“I wish to buy a piece of land in future and expand my business, while at the same time create jobs for others.
“A lot of people looked down on my efforts, but I refused to quit and will work harder to prove that success comes in various forms of jobs,” she said.
