PETALING JAYA, Aug 9 — A RM3,000 loan from Platform Selangor (PLATS) marked the beginning of Nurliyana Habul Abas’ entrepreneurial journey and helped her pastry business boom to monthly sales of RM80,000.
The 36-year-old now runs Bakeri Yana in Kajang and has provided numerous jobs, and credits the knowledge and experience she gained under PLATS for helping her grow her business.
Nurliyana received the PLATS Biaya Outstanding Entrepreneur Award, which was presented by Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari at the PLATS Awards Night (MAPS) here on Friday.
“PLATS taught me that we should not just be ‘product makers’; instead we need to become entrepreneurs.
“As entrepreneurs, we need to think about how to grow the business not only for ourselves, but also to create opportunities and share our good fortune with the people around us,” she told Media Selangor when met after receiving her award.
She however said her business journey has had its share of setbacks, especially with changes to the food supply regulations for schools, which resulted in some of her school-based customers unable to continue ordering from her.
But Nurliyana said she revised her business strategy by shifting her focus to making doughnuts and participating in various events to reach new markets.
“Right now, we are starting again from the bottom. Sales are currently around RM10,000 to RM20,000 a month and, God willing, I am confident we can reach RM80,000 again.
“Even though we are starting over, we are still being supported by PLATS,” said Nurliyana, who has participated in three PLATS Bootcamp series.
She said the programme not only provided her with business knowledge but also helped her with business equipment, which she still uses today.
She added that she discovered PLATS while selling products at SACC Mall, and registered for a PLATS Bootcamp.
“At the time, I really did not have any knowledge about business. PLATS helped me a lot in terms of knowledge, guidance, and how to think as an entrepreneur.
“I am very grateful because this opportunity changed the way I view business,” Nurliyana said, adding that rebuilding her business after facing market changes has become part of the process of growing and developing as an entrepreneur.
Now in its third edition, MAPS is a strategic collaboration between the Selangor State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN), Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporation), or (MBI), and local authorities.
Organised by Yayasan MBI, MAPS saw 23 awards presented in nine categories, including innovation, digitalisation, community development, women and youth leadership, and technology usage in business.
