Proud moment: Jannahtul Akhma showing the award she received during the Johor HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards.
JOHOR BARU: After spending a semester pursuing a diploma in accounting, Jannahtul Akhma Juraini realised she could no longer ignore her true passion for cooking.
The 27-year-old, who had aspired to be a chef since she was a child, said she initially decided to study accounting because it was considered a course that could offer a more secure future.
“Like many people at that time, my parents were hoping for me to get a government job in the future, and a diploma in accounting seemed to be the better choice.
“I tried to fulfil their wishes and even completed a whole semester, but eventually, I realised that I just could not turn my back on my love for cooking.
“I then persuaded my parents to let me switch my course, and after getting their blessings, I went on to take a diploma in culinary arts from Kolej Yayasan Pelajaran Johor,” she said when met during the Johor HalalTrip Gastronomy Awards here recently.
The eldest of four siblings, who now has seven years as a chef under her belt, said her love for cooking came from her grandmother and aunt, as well as television.
“I used to watch many cooking shows and competitions from a very young age. I remember really enjoying them.
“On top of that, my grandmother also often cooked traditional Malay cookies and kuih, while my aunt ran a small home-based food business.
“I believe it is the combination of all of these bits and pieces that fostered my love for cooking and moulded me into the chef that I am today,” she said.
Jannahtul Akhma was among over a dozen chefs and establishments who were honoured for their talents and efforts in shaping Johor’s rise as a halal gastronomic destination.
Also honoured at the ceremony was Kluang Rail Coffee, a beloved establishment with over eight decades of history, which received the Legacy Award.
In his speech, director Lim Ben Winn expressed his gratitude to the community, especially loyal customers who have been supporting them through generations.
“Like me, many of our customers grew up with the railway and are now coming to the kopitiam with their children and grandchildren.
“To me, that is what legacy really means. It is not just about surviving; it is also about continuing to matter and remaining valuable to the people,” said Ben Winn, who is a fourth-generation member of the founder’s family.
The coffee shop, located at the railway station in Kluang, was founded by Ben Winn’s great-grandfather Lim Luan Hee in 1938.
