Yummy delight: Said Rizwan thanking a customer in sign language at his stall at the Taman Dahlia Ramadan bazaar in Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
No words needed, this fan favourite speaks for itself
JOHOR BARU: In the absence of words, speech-impaired popiah seller Said Rizwan Rahmattulah’s hands do all the talking.
At his stall in the Taman Dahlia Ramadan bazaar here, the 36-year-old, who is also hearing impaired, takes orders with a glance and a nod.
Customers either point at the menu or use sign language to place their orders, and he swiftly gets to work churning out orders of “popiah basah” which are spring rolls filled with savoury jicama (sengkuang) topped with caramelised chilli sauce and crunchy toppings.
“A notice at my stall informs customers of my disability, so they understand my lack of verbal response,” he explained in sign language.
“My grandfather started this business 73 years ago, passing it to my father in 1989. I’ve helped since I was 16.
“Initially, I was worried about taking over, but my family’s encouragement led me to accept the challenge six years ago when my father Rahmat Ismail, 73, passed it down to me.’
Said Rizwan and his wife, Nur Azleen Aziz, 35, who also has hearing and speech difficulties, begin preparations at 6am daily, with family assistance.
“We make everything from scratch, from the delicate popiah skin to the fillings and our signature chilli sauce.
“We use about 20kg of fresh jicama daily to ensure the best taste and texture, which I think is key to our popiah’s popularity.”
He added that about 25% of their customers are Singaporeans, and their spring rolls are vegetarian-friendly.
Throughout Ramadan, Said Rizwan operates at the bustling bazaar from 3pm onwards, while outside of the fasting month, he sells the spring rolls from a food truck at various pasar malam locations across Johor Baru.
Each day, the stall sells about 1,000 spring rolls, available in both fried or non-fried versions.
Customers can also opt for a mix of both, he said, adding that his brother runs a similar stall at the Kampung Melayu Majidee Ramadan bazaar.
“My whole family is involved in the business, including my nephew, who picked up sign language to help out at the stall.
“Although the work is exhausting, seeing our regular customers come back time and time again makes it all worthwhile.
“I want to make my family proud by keeping my grandfather’s legacy alive.”
