WITHIN months of joining a Selangor government digital entrepreneurial platform, a local satay trader expanded her business and bagged two top accolades at Platform Selangor (Plats) Awards Night.
Minah Satay owner Norminah Syafrial, 42, who joined Plats in January, won the Innovative Micro-Entrepreneurs Award and the main Selangor Micro-Entrepreneurs Award for her do-it-yourself (DIY) satay kit.
Norminah developed the product alongside her sister after enrolling in the state initiative.
“We have been running Minah Satay for five years and wanted to expand our business overseas.
“Initially, we thought of exporting our prepared satay but faced difficulties and restrictions.
“After some brainstorming, we created the satay DIY kit which contains satay spices, peanut sauce and instructions on how to make the dish.
“With the kit, customers can easily marinate the chicken and grill it themselves,” she said at the awards night in Bandar Sunway, Selangor.
Norminah said Plats helped her build a digital tracking system to manage information across her agents and kiosks.
“Our headquarters is located in Sri Damansara and we have eight licensed kiosks under the Minah Satay brand in Selangor.
“We also have a factory in Sri Damansara and a restaurant in Prima Damansara.”
She added that Plats coached her on social media content strategy, particularly on TikTok, which increased her sales by about 30%.
“Previously, we created content for fun. After the training, our TikTok following grew from about 2,000 to more than 6,000 followers.”
Norminah said she planned to hire more agents.
“Currently, one agent has to oversee two to three kiosks.
“As we are expanding our business, we will certainly need more manpower.”
Winning a total of RM8,000 in cash and RM30,000 from the Selangor Micro-Entrepreneurs Fund, Norminah was one of 22 entrepreneurs recognised at the event.
Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said 102,466 entrepreneurs registered under Plats as of July.
“We will not only look at how many entrepreneurs join, but also how Plats can change their businesses.
“Plats will focus on increasing revenue, strengthening their businesses, creating job opportunities, expanding market access, increasing productivity through technologies and sustaining business growth.”
He added that the state government would continue strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem through digitalisation, financing access, capacity building and strategic networking.
Present at the event were Selangor Deputy State Secretary (Development) Datuk Johary Anuar, Selangor youth, sports and entrepreneurship committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi, Selangor Deputy State Secretary (Management) Datuk Amirul Azizan Abd Rahim, Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) Selangor group chief executive officer Datuk Saipolyazan M. Yusop and Yayasan MBI head Ahmad Azri Zainal Nor.
Among city and local council leadership present were Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohd Yazid Sairi and deputy mayor Sharinaz Samsudin.
