Single mum not letting disability stop her from making a living

Doing her best: Zarina proudly showing off her business licence. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: A wheelchair-bound single mother is not letting her physical condition diminish her life or prevent her from making a living.

Zarina Safian, 36, who has no arms and legs, earns her livelihood by peddling kuih tepung pelita in an electric wheelchair around Tasik Sri Rampai in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, to support her family.

She begins her day as early as 6am, to make the traditional cakes using a special machine before going out to sell them.

“I learnt to make the cakes on YouTube and started selling them three years ago, ” Zarina told Bernama when met at the launching ceremony of Prihatin Business Registration Scheme (SPPP) here recently.

She was among the first recipients under the scheme, an initiative by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), which allows the target group, including the disabled, students and B40 youths to register their business for free.

Zarina said she refused to wait for help to come her way without doing anything as she wanted to provide a comfortable life for her two children.

Apart from selling kuih tepung pelita, Zarina who lives in Taman Setapak Jaya in Kuala Lumpur, also sells traditional cakes such as kuih talam, seri muka and curry puffs made by other suppliers.

Zarina said she hoped that the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) could provide a permanent location for her to sell her cakes in Tasik Sri Rampai so she would not have to go around in her wheelchair, which she said could be tiring.

“I hope with the business licence registered with SSM, DBKL will approve my application for a permanent location to sell the cakes, ” she said.

Zarina also called on others to grab the opportunity offered under the SPPP, saying that for help to come, they would have to reach out.

“Being disabled is not an excuse. We can also succeed, ” she said.