KUCHING: For many small business owners, the road to success is never a straight line. It is a path paved with struggle, adaptation and learning.
At the Bumiputera Business Coaching (IBBC) Graduation Ceremony organised by Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN) held at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre Kuching on Friday, several participants shared how the programme has transformed their businesses and their lives.
From humble roadside stalls to structured enterprises with growing profits, these entrepreneurs embody the spirit of Sarawak’s enterprising community; resilient, determined and eager to learn.
For Ismail Hanizam Safri, 43, business has always been about survival and innovation.
“We started from a roadside roti canai stall,” he said, recalling his early days between 2017 and 2019.
“Then in 2020, we finally opened our own restaurant. But when COVID hit, it was really challenging. We stayed confident and pushed through.”
Today, his company has evolved into a diversified food enterprise, offering retort meals; ready-to-eat dishes that can be stored without refrigeration for up to a year.
“Our retort menu includes spicy tomato chicken, chicken rendang, beef curry and beef rendang, eight varieties in total.
“We just received halal certification, and we’re now ready to expand into wider markets,” he explained.
Based in Jalan Haji Taha, Ismail now oversees three operations; a bakery, a restaurant, and a factory in Demak dedicated to producing retort food.
Before joining INSKEN, he admitted that business decisions were mostly instinctive.
“We opened shops wherever we saw a crowd. If there was profit, great; if not, we moved on.
“But after INSKEN, we learned to plan properly, to calculate profit margins, set prices strategically and run our operations systematically.”
His company’s monthly sales have since doubled from RM30,000-40,000 before joining INSKEN to RM80,000 today.
“Now, we target RM100,000 monthly and aim to hit our first RM1 million in revenue by 2026.
“Success isn’t just about one person making it. It’s about everyone growing together,” Hanizam said.
For Muhammad Fadilah Ali Seman, 39, entrepreneurship has been a family affair.
One that started with a simple burger stall and grew into a thriving café in Sarikei.
“We began in 2018 selling burgers. From a wooden stall to aluminium, then to a towing truck, then a food truck.
“When COVID hit, everything collapsed. Hence, we took a leap and opened a café and restaurant,” he said.
Today, Fadilah operates both Benteng Sarikei and Big Boss Western at Bazar Mara GM10. Yet, the transformation didn’t happen overnight.
“Before INSKEN, we didn’t know how to price properly.
“We thought we were making profit, but actually, we were losing money,” he admitted.
After joining INSKEN, his team learned how to manage finances, set proper costing and develop SOPs for their staff.
“Our profit margin was only around 10 per cent before, barely enough to survive. Now, it’s 30-40 per cent and we finally have breathing room.
“Even our salaries are structured now; before this, we didn’t even pay ourselves properly,” he said.
Through financial discipline and pricing strategy, Fadilah and his team now balance affordability with sustainability.
“We’ve learned to adjust prices smartly when costs go up, without burdening customers.
“INSKEN taught us that a successful business isn’t about guessing — it’s about planning,” he added.
With support from INSKEN coaches, his café is now close to achieving its first RM1 million in annual revenue.
In another success story, Sarura Awi, 41, of D’Purple Licious Enterprise, transformed her small kitchen experiment of making crispy chicken skin, sambal, and cassava chips into a growing business thanks to INSKEN’s guidance.
“Before joining INSKEN, I only sold around my area and to friends. After joining, I gained new networks and learned proper marketing. Now, some of my products even reach Kuala Lumpur,” she said.
She admitted that before joining, her business records were unorganised.
“Everything was in my head. Nothing was written down.
“After INSKEN, I learned to track all the ‘in and out’ expenses. I even hired four staff to handle packaging while I supervise operations,” she explained.
Her sales reflect her growth.
“Before INSKEN, I earned around RM1500 a month. Now, it’s up to RM2,000 or more.
“I’ve also completed my nutrition and lab testing; my products are more credible and ready for wider markets,” she said.
Looking ahead, Sarura hopes to expand beyond Sarawak, armed with confidence and structure.
“I can see a big improvement in how I manage the business, in my confidence, and in my products,” she said.
On the other hand, Zaimon Saliman, 42, from Sibu, shared that his experience with INSKEN was not only about learning business strategies but also about personal growth and self-improvement.
“When I joined INSKEN, I felt proud because I gained so much new knowledge not just theory but real practical guidance,” she said.
Balancing her office job and a small home business, Zaimon used to handle finances by estimation.
“Before INSKEN, I roughly guessed my costs and profits,” she admitted.
“Now, I know how to calculate properly and manage my savings.”
Her monthly income has more than doubled from RM3,000 to RM7,000 after completing the programme.
“What I appreciate most about INSKEN is the motivation,” she added.
“I met other entrepreneurs, shared ideas, and learned that we all face the same struggles.”
Even though her business remains small, Zaimon dreams of one day expanding and hiring her own staff.
“For now, I manage it alone with some help from my children. I hope to grow bigger and provide jobs for others,” she said.
The INSKEN IBBC programme has proven to be a game-changer for many local entrepreneurs, including those interviewed during the event at Raia Hotel and Convention Centre Kuching.
From learning proper financial management and marketing strategies to developing confidence in business decision-making, participants have gained practical knowledge that directly translates into real growth and stability for their ventures.
More than just a training platform, INSKEN has created a support ecosystem where entrepreneurs learn, collaborate, and inspire one another.
For many, it is not just the start of better business practices, but the beginning of a journey towards self-reliance and shared success — a reflection of Sarawak’s growing community of resilient, forward-thinking entrepreneurs ready to take their businesses to the next level.
