BY: Michelle Liew
The pandemic has seen a spike in unemployment due to its unforeseen impact on the economy.
Many have been rendered jobless due to retrenchment and some have switched career paths for a lower but more sustainable income.
Ridzuan Jamal left his job as a supervising engineer to sell buns from his car boot last year and has provided jobs to those who have lost their income due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 28-year-old Sabahan stated that he has now earned enough to open his own shop after selling the buns priced at RM1 each for less than six months. Ridzuan’s astonishing achievement has garnered publicity, and many are eager to hear his story.
What is much more surprising is that despite the affordable price of the buns, he actually earned more than his previous job! According to Ridzuan, he sold about 1,000 buns daily in Penampang and Putatan.
“Now, my bakery has nine workers who recently lost their jobs, and also newly-graduated youngsters.
“There are also three secondary school students working as part timers to help their parents whose incomes are affected by the pandemic, apart from getting work experience,” he said as quoted from The Star.
Ridzuan stated that his workers’ basic salary ranged between RM900 and RM1,200.
The newly-wed entrepreneur is now focusing on expanding his business and plans to recruit mor workers in the future. Ridzuan has eight agents to cover Sepanggar, Inanam, KK, Putatan, Papar, Kinarut, Kimanis and Telipok and is keen on looking for more.
“I am concentrating on having as many agents as possible to even cover more districts from Tuaran to Menumbok.
“Therefore, I need more people to increase the supply to help others to survive through employment and sales especially during the movement control order now,” he said.
When one chapter closes, another one opens. Perseverance is the key to ensuring success. Ridzuan taught us that no matter the circumstances, do not give up.
