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Can businesses legally ban or turn a customer away in Malaysia? Here’s what the law says.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and is not meant to be used or construed as legal advice in any manner whatsoever. All articles have been scrutinised by a practising lawyer from Tristan & Partners to ensure accuracy.

If you’ve been around the internet in any capacity, then you’ve no doubt at least heard “Karen” be used as a slang term before.

Rather unfortunately for those actually named Karen, the word has entered English dictionaries as an insult to anyone who showcases entitled behaviour through public displays of criticism and complaints. And, notably, not of the civil kind.

Businesses tend to be the most frequent “victims” of these kinds of individuals.

But would they legally be able to refuse their services to them, or anyone for that matter, under any circumstances?

A “fundamental liberty”

Unlike the last few articles in our legal column, there actually wasn’t an immediate clear answer to this one.

A quick Google search would point you in the direction of the Consumer Protection Act 1999 as well as the Registration of Business Act 1956, however, neither of those actually cover our topic of discussion.

For that, we’ll have to look all the way back to article eight of our Federal Constitution, which touches on equality.

Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, states the following:

Except as expressly authorized by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under a public authority or in the administration of any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.

In other words, so long as you’re not turning down a customer based on their gender, beliefs, colour of their skin, or country of origin, you’re good to go.

You can bid adieu to the troublemakers who take “the customer is always right” a little too seriously.

But that brings us on to another interesting question: what happens when you violate the constitution?

Not quite the same, but…

The Federal Constitution actually makes no reference to the punishment dealt in cases such as these.

But what we can do is look at a certain instance from the past.

Back in 2014, Malay Mail reported on a case where a woman, Noorfadilla Ahmad Saikin, sued the government for refusing to employ her as a temporary teacher in light of her pregnancy.

She was awarded RM300,000 in damages for a breach of her constitutional right to gender equality. Additional fees were also charged to account for her loss of earnings, EPF, EPF dividends, compensation for “pain and suffering,” as well as costs.

This, Noorfadilla’s lawyer Honey Tan noted, was a first for the country as prior to this, damages paid for breach of constitutional rights had “never” been dealt before.

But that being the case, she would later add that “Malaysian courts refuse to hold private actors like companies liable for breach of constitutional rights.”

In particular, she made reference to Beatrice Fernandez’s case where Beatrice had sued her former employer, Malaysia Airlines, for firing her after she became pregnant and refused to resign.

“To date, the courts are following the decision in Beatrice Fernandez that held that citizens can only bring a claim for breach of constitutional rights if the party doing the discrimination is a public authority,” she explained.

The golden rule

It goes without saying, of course, that this by no means is any excuse for businesses to suddenly swing things in the opposite direction.

Practically speaking, a business that treats themself as king won’t last for very long as potential customers would simply flock to competitors instead.

If a customer is respectful, then treat them with respect (even if they are a bit clueless and holding up the line a bit).

If they aren’t? Show them the door.

It’s as the saying goes. Treat others the way you wish to be treated.

• Read other articles we’ve written about law here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: @DFEfiercefun (X) / Images used under licence from Shutterstock

This SS2 cafe was recognised as the “best” coffee shop in Malaysia. Here’s their story.

A couple months ago, a new global award took the world of coffee by storm—The World’s 100 Best Coffee Shops. 

One Malaysian business emerged in the top 10 of that list of 100, sitting at ninth in the world. 

And that business is ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha in SS2. 

A master brewer 

Shaun Liew is the co-founder of ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha. But he’s not just that. 

The man also runs his own roastery, Curate Coffee Roasters. His coffee career was built upon his accolades as Malaysia Brewer’s Cup Champion 2017 and 2019. Apart from that, he’s also a graduate in both Masters and Degree in Hospitality Management. 

And before entering the specialty coffee industry, Shaun was actually a university lecturer, teaching food & beverage operations and event management. He was also previously a co-founder of popular F&B brands Yellow Brick Road cafe and Wizards at Tribeca.

Today, of course, he’s focusing on his core businesses, ONO & Curate Coffee Roasters. Yet, outside of ONO, Shuan still gets the odd cafe and restaurant consultancy job as well. 

Onto ONO 

ONO got its start back in December 2021 when the local cafe industry had been booming, with new shops mushrooming everywhere across Malaysia. 

But this period also saw many businesses closing down, including Shaun’s. 

“During that year my previous business partners and I decided to sell off our business (Wizards at Tribeca) as it was financially heavy to sustain the business in an uncertain future,” Shaun explained. 

It was a time marred with several lockdowns, which severely impacted dine-in restaurants and eateries, especially those without many neighbourhood crowds. 

“At that time, I needed to chart out my own career path for my own future,” Shaun explained. 

Coincidentally, a friend—Syun, the co-founder of Niko Neko Matcha, who was a supplier for Shaun’s other businesses—had approached him. 

Syun asked Shaun the fateful question of whether he’d be keen to open a cafe with him. Here, they’d focus on specialty coffee and matcha, both executed at the same level. 

After all, Syun was good at matcha, and Shaun was good at coffee. Why not combine both their expertise and start a shop offering the best of both worlds? 

Seeing an opportunity to create something new, ONO was created. 

The story of ONO 

According to Shaun, the word “ONO” means “you” in Japanese. This reflects ONO’s mission of creating a memorable experience through great food and drinks for their customers and team. 

Shaun pointed out that their Instagram handle is @story.of.ono, referring to the “story of you.” 

“At our store, we do our best to understand our customer’s preferences and recommend to them what we feel is the best to match that preference,” he explained. 

“We want to connect as much as we can with our customers and also be able to build a positive relationship which could in turn [make them] regular customers at our store.”

Initially, ONO only served specialty coffee and matcha, as well as signature drinks and Japanese sandos (sandwiches). As time passed, market demands shifted, with more people seeking hot foods and desserts. 

True to their ethos of connections, they hired a head chef to curate a more wholesome menu, while adding more seats to accommodate a larger capacity. 

But adding to the menu means nothing without consistency and quality. That’s why ONO prioritises comprehensive training, ensuring the whole team is always aligned with the business’ values and direction. 

To be one of the best

Creating ONO, the vision had always been to become one of the best cafes in the world offering both good quality specialty coffee as well as matcha.

This ambition, it appears, has culminated in the cafe’s recognition by the World’s Top 100 Best Coffee Shops Award 2025, where they were crowned as the ninth best in the world and second best in Asia. 

“This gave us the validation despite being one of the younger cafes which were awarded as the Top 100,” Shaun expressed. 

Of course, the journey doesn’t end with the award. From here on out, ONO will strive to continue to do their best, continually improving with the future in mind. 

Shaun humbly and gratefully acknowledges the award, but definitely believes that there’s still plenty of room to grow and become better. 

“To me, continuous improvement is what makes us better every day and we will continue to do our best to become the best in the world in the near future,” he said.

Up against a robust scene

The fact that the list mentions not one, not two, but three Malaysian coffee shops is a testament to the cafe culture in Malaysia. Visiting cafes and drinking curated beverages has become a way of life here, and due to that, competition has become fiercer. 

Quality, Shaun believes, is still the ultimate factor for standing out. “In the end, if a cafe is able to deliver consistent quality products and service, this is what drives people to come back because they won’t be disappointed.”

Of course, there are other things too, like a unique offering (such as ONO’s combination of both high-quality coffee and matcha drinks) and a strong branding. 

Like many F&B businesses, though, one big deterrent is still labour. Even the best coffee shop in Malaysia has a hard time locking down quality talents, it seems. 

“Many of us find that the locals do not fancy being part of our industry. Even if they do, they only want to be part of it for a very short time before jumping to a different or similar industry,” he explained. 

They have their reasons, of course, and Shaun knows it. For one, he understands that it could be due to the high stress levels involved as well as the pay. 

“To overcome this problem, we do our best to treat our team like a family,” he said. “Provide them a better work-life balance. Give them proper training and guidance. Pay them well and also most important is to take care of the team’s welfare.”

So, what’s next for ONO, now that they’ve been recognised on a world stage? Well, things appear to be business as usual for the team. 

They do intend to expand their existing kitchen though to offer more food offerings.

“We will also look forward to another outlet, maybe next year?” Shaun mused. “It all depends on the market situation.”

• Learn more about ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha

Ong Ye Kung: Singapore must be decisive, but with checks & balances

It was just yesterday (April 23) that the candidates for the general elections were announced, and things are heating up.

From a shocking walkover to multi-cornered fights, Singapore is expecting fierce contests between political parties for potential parliamentary seats, with numerous factors influencing the outcome.

Singaporeans are concerned about the US tariffs

An issue that has dominated headlines leading up to GE2025 is the US tariffs, which have since significantly disrupted the global trade system. However, some believe that the average Singaporean might not understand its impact.

Singapore’s Minister of Health, Ong Ye Kung, who previously served as the Deputy Trade Negotiator behind the Singapore-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), shared his worries on a live stream with The Daily Ketchup.

Mr Ong started by saying that the introduction of the tariffs had raised questions on whether the rules of free trade are bound to change and how the international trade system will continue to operate, which is highly dependent on how other countries respond to it.

However, it brings a “long period of uncertainty,” which directly affects the global economy and job market.

“I am hearing from several sectors that people are saying that things are slow. There’s no investments [coming in], people are holding back, even real estate agents are telling me that it’s hard to see transactions.”

As Singapore is heavily reliant on trade for its growth, the city-state plays an active role in the international ecosystem. This creates a domino effect that encourages other world leaders and trade ministers to understand the overall sentiment and engage in free trade.

Checks and balances are necessary in Parliament

Navigating global issues is often complex, and Singaporeans look to their country’s leadership for guidance and direction.

However, as the city-state has a dominant party, the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has held the majority for decades, some have questioned whether the Parliament lacks diversity in views.

Mr Ong, who is currently running under the PAP as an anchor minister for Sembawang GRC, shares the same sentiment.

“If any parliament is just one party, surely there is a lack of diversity. Nobody will argue against that,” he said. “So, therefore, I think we have to embrace the fact that people want some different views.”

In GE2020, Singapore witnessed a surge in opposition voices in Parliament, with the Workers’ Party securing 12 seats and the Progress Singapore Party gaining two seats under the Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) scheme.

Reflecting on the performance of the previous Parliament, Mr Ong believes that the politics has been “stable” and there is discourse amongst different members.

On one hand, I feel that the PAP can still be decisive, we can still adapt, we can still move quite fast for a small country. On the other hand, we can’t push things around and bulldoze things, because there is a check and balance, so much so that these days, when we put out a legislation, we have to think about what the opposition would say.

Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung speaking on a livestream on The Daily Ketchup

Impact of the opposition getting 1/3 of the seats

Some netizens have also spoken out online, expressing the need for a stronger opposition in Parliament, with the hopes of them occupying one-third of the seats. However, Mr Ong remains wary of having more opposition voices, as that could result in an adverse outcome.

On the livestream with The Daily Ketchup, he explained the opposition will continue to be loyal, but once they occupy one-third of the seats, they might harbour a new ambition to become the majority party in Singapore and obstruct the current government.

Over the years, the world has seen cracks in democratic countries, notably the US and the UK, which are marked by political turmoil. A global watchdog warned in its report that the US could lose its democratic status, and 63% of the UK’s young adults believed that democracy is “in trouble.”

However, the US and the UK are global superpowers, with populations and geographical size vastly larger compared to the tiny red dot, which implies that there is a high probability that Singapore may not survive similar levels of chaos experienced in larger and more mature democracies.

Chaos doesn’t work for us, we are already small and that’s a disadvantage. If we are small and chaotic, finish lah! At least be small and decisive, but with checks and balances.

Minister of Health Ong Ye Kung on The Daily Ketchup podcast

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During the live stream, Mr Ong also spoke about a range of other topics—including some lighthearted ones, such as his MBTI personality type. You can catch the full stream here:

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: Handwritten names and empty stages: How GE2025 took an unexpected turn

Featured Image Credit: The Daily Ketchup

GE2025: Singapore could have 4 parties in the Parliament, as SDP tries to break the dry spell

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

In 2020, Singapore saw a third party enter Parliament, with the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) securing two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats after narrowly losing to the People’s Action Party (PAP) in the tightly contested West Coast GRC.

This year, another surprise could be in the works, as the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) is aiming to end its nearly 30-year absence from Parliament.

It put up a strong showing last time—Secretary-General Chee Soon Juan garnered over 45% of the vote in Bukit Batok SMC, while Chairman Paul Tambyah did even better with 46.27% in Bukit Panjang.

An early blow came when Bukit Batok was removed from the electoral map, but Chee’s move to Sembawang West still leaves him with a shot.

Two seats in contention

SDP is fielding 11 candidates across four constituencies for GE2025, but a win in Marsiling-Yew Tee—held by Lawrence Wong—or in the three-way battle in Sembawang, against Minister Ong Ye Kung’s team and the National Solidarity Party (NSP), looks like a long shot, especially with the opposition vote likely to split.

This is likely why SDP’s top two—Chee in Sembawang West and Tambyah in Bukit Panjang—are both contesting in single-member constituencies, setting up direct, one-on-one fights with PAP candidates.

After earlier, underwhelming attempts to take on GRCs, the party shifted tactics a decade ago—and saw their results improve.

In 2015, their team in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC managed to secure just 33% of the vote. But five years later, individual performances jumped by more than 10 percentage points.

This time, Paul Tambyah is aiming to narrow that gap even further in a rematch against PAP’s Liang Eng Hwa, who won the last round with a slim 7.46% majority.

Chee Soon Juan’s strategy is harder to read, but his trajectory has been upward—from 38% in his 2016 by-election debut against Murali Pillai, to 45.20% in 2020.

With his former constituency dissolved, Chee Soon Juan has moved to Sembawang West, where he’s up against a relatively new face in the PAP lineup: Poh Li San—a former aide-de-camp to President S.R. Nathan and RSAF helicopter pilot, who entered Parliament as a Sembawang GRC MP in 2020.

Though she heads the PAP’s Sembawang West branch and was a grassroots volunteer in the area before becoming an MP, this will be Poh Li San’s first time running as a standalone candidate, against a well-known, if thus far unsuccessful, opposition figure.

It could be a tight race.

Direct victory is not necessary

What’s important to note is that neither of SDP’s frontrunners needs to win outright to enter Parliament. Under the NCMP scheme, opposition parties are guaranteed at least 12 seats, even if they don’t win any constituencies directly.

In 2020, after the Workers’ Party secured 10 elected seats, the Progress Singapore Party filled the remaining two NCMP spots thanks to its narrow loss to the PAP in West Coast GRC.

However, neither party can be certain of retaining those positions. WP’s team in Sengkang has been shaken by the Raeesah Khan scandal, while PSP’s Leong Mun Wai was hit with a POFMA correction order last year.

Tan Cheng Bock’s support for outsider Tan Kin Lian in the 2023 presidential race may not have helped either, even as the PAP contends with the fallout from the S. Iswaran scandal.

If other opposition parties falter, it could open the door for either Chee Soon Juan or Paul Tambyah to clinch at least one NCMP seat, especially if their contests against the PAP are tighter than before.

In fact, both came close to meeting the threshold for best-performing losing candidates five years ago.

While most attention is on the Workers’ Party’s showdown with the PAP (some eyes are turning to the West too, to see if PSP can outperform its last showing), the Singapore Democratic Party shouldn’t be counted out for a surprise of its own.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: Punggol GRC is the Workers’ Party’s biggest opportunity but also the toughest fight

Featured Image Credit: The Singapore Democratic Party/ Graphic designed by Vulcan Post

GE2025: What is a sample count and is it even accurate?

Singapore is well into the election season and is set to hold its general election (GE) on May 3.

Now that we are about a week away from Polling Day, here’s an explainer on a sample count—what is it and how does it differ from the election result? 

After all the votes are cast, Singaporeans will be anticipating the results of the election. However, before the votes are counted, a sample count is performed first.

What is a sample count?

A sample count provides an early indication of the possible election results.

After voting closes, ballot papers from the islandwide polling stations will be put in sealed boxes and transported to counting centres. 

A counting assistant picks up 100 random ballot papers from each polling station and counts the number of votes for each candidate or group (in the case of GRCs). 

The votes will then be added up and weighted according to the number of votes cast at each polling station. 

The results from the sample count will then be disseminated to the media and published on the Elections Department (ELD) website.

Why do we need a sample count?

The sample count aims to prevent unnecessary speculation and reliance on unofficial sources while the counting process is still underway. 

GE2015 marked the first time the sample counts were released to all the Group Representation Constituencies and Single-Member Constituencies. 

Prior to that, sample counts were conducted for internal use by the ELD only. In the 2011 election, candidates could request for the sample count to be made known to them. 

Releasing the sample counts to the public is even more relevant for the GE2025, when a large population of the electorate is more networked and media-savvy. This could lead to the proliferation of unreliable information. 

How accurate is a sample count?

In the 2015 elections, sample counts closely mirrored the final results, with discrepancies ranging from 0 to 3%.

Similarly, in GE2020, the deviations between the sample counts and final results were also relatively small—mostly falling within 0 to 4 percentage points. 

Hence, if one political party is ahead by a larger margin, it is highly likely that they will take the constituency.

If the difference in votes between candidates contesting a constituency is 2% or less, an automatic recount will be carried out. Previously, candidates or counting agents had to apply for a recount.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and more here.

Also Read: GE2025: What happens if you don’t vote on Polling Day in Singapore?

Featured Image Credit: Petir.sg/ Graphic designed by Vulcan Post

An ode to my fave K-BBQ spot in Ara Damansara, who won’t reply to my interview questions

One fateful day five months ago, I came across a post promoting a new Korean restaurant by the name of Jojo Sikdang in Ara Damansara. 

The food looked good, and I frequent that area, so it was a no-brainer to try. At the same time, I wanted to reach out and have an interview with the founders, curious to know more about the business I was patronising.

After getting in touch with their team, I sent out my interview request. Sadly, I haven’t been able to maintain contact. And yet, every now and again, I’ll message them a little follow up, in hopes that they would reply. 

In this period of waiting, I’ve visited Jojo not once, not twice, but four times. Heck, I even went for my birthday celebration. 

And despite not knowing it was my birthday the next day, the kind storeowner gave us some 서비스 (seobiseu)—dishes on the house—saying that it paired well with the makgeoli (rice wine). It was silken tofu with grilled kimchi and pork. Insane pairing. Devastatingly delicious. 

Moved by this kindness, I feel compelled to tell you about this busines—even though they won’t tell me about themselves.

Here’s what I know 

One unique menu item at Jojo Sikdang’s offerings is its kkot sam—thinly sliced pork belly shaped into a flower. 

Jojo might just be one of the only places in Malaysia that offers the dish. Now, it’s nothing too different from the usual pork belly, but it’s certainly just as thin, delicate, tender, and delicious as good pork belly typically is—but more on the food later. 

The owners appear to be a couple from South Korea, with the lady boss having appeared on social media content. Meanwhile, the husband is someone I’ve encountered multiple times in the store. 

The uncle is always attentive and present, and often jokes with us (such as when my friend did some cool party tricks with the soju).  

While the team hasn’t replied to my interview questions, they have mentioned that it’s a family business. From there, I learnt I was liaising with the owner’s daughter, but that’s the extent of all the factual information I have.

In my four visits there, I’ve always encountered the same few waitstaff, which to me shows that turnover rate isn’t high so hopefully conditions are decent. They’re always super helpful, too, stepping in unprompted whenever they spot us struggling. 

About the food 

Sentiments also appear to be varying online, with some saying they dislike the food or find the meat too thinly sliced.

Taste is subjective, though, and my taste says that Jojo Sikdang offers some of the best Korean food I’ve had. And I just went to Korea in March.

Their meats are served with a tray of refillable sides (or banchan), including kimchi, jeon (pancake), garlic, doenjang (fermented soybean paste), lettuce, and perhaps most unique is the pajeori, which is a spicy green onion salad. 

Instead of wrapping a lettuce around the meat, you can wrap the salad with your meat for a refreshing, slightly tangy bite. 

The flavour of the (refillable!) kimchi is to my liking, but again, that’s pretty subjective. I wish I could tell you that it was fermented using generations-old recipes, but alas, I know nothing of the history of the business.

Now, to address some concerns. Why use foil? Well, Jojo Sikdang uses it to keep the meat tender and juicy and to prevent charring. 

(Not to sound pretentious, but local places in Korea also use foil—it’s perfectly “authentic” in casual contexts.) 

Beyond their classic kkot sam (RM27), other signature cuts include the kkot moksal (thinly sliced pork shoulder), and one of my favourites, the yangnyum moksal (soy sauce-marinated pork shoulder) which is priced at RM28. 

Note that getting two servings of meat gives you a small discount. 

I also really, really recommend their kimchi jiggae (kimchi soup), which is umami and salty, but not spicy. It’s RM25 and comes with a fair amount of pork. Perfect with a bowl of white rice (RM5). 

The RM18 steamed eggs are also delicious—fluffy and bursting with cheese. 

If you drink, they have some decent offerings, too. For RM28 each, they have Cass beer, perfect for lager lovers, as well as Korean classics soju and makgeoli. 

There’s also a unique lemon soju (RM33), which isn’t flavoured soju like you might think, but straight up just plain soju mixed in with lemon juice inside an aluminium kettle. There’s also cucumber soju, which I haven’t tried but believe is the same concept.

I wouldn’t call this pricing “affordable,” but I do think it’s good value for your money. It’s a nice environment with friendly people and delicious food. What more could I ask for?

Call me, maybe 

The truth is, I do feel sidelined by the fact that Jojo Sikdang forgot about (or has elected to ignore) little old me. 

What’s in it for me? Well, I’m not sure. More than curiosity, I just believe that their story is worth being told. 

Here at Vulcan Post, we often share stories of Malaysian startups and SMEs. Now and again, though, these small businesses would tell us that they don’t feel like they’re big enough to talk to the media. 

So maybe this article is a cry into the void to go against that thought. Perhaps it’s an occupational hazard, but I really believe there’s always a story somewhere, you just have to find and tell it. 

Yes, these businesses don’t owe me anything. Still, I hope that perhaps one day, I’ll get to share the stories behind businesses such as Jojo Sikdang. 

• Learn more about Jojo Sikdang here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why the M’sian co-founder of this Australian marketing co. is now expanding the biz back home

Featured Image Credit: Jojo Sikdang

How this M’sian ended up opening a fresh pasta bar on the 3rd floor of a a PJ office building

The third floor of an office building in PJ might seem like an unlikely spot to find freshly made pasta, but that’s exactly where you’ll find San Lou Pasta Bar. 

Behind the pasta bar is 32-year-old Stephen, whose journey in F&B started a long time ago. 

Growing up in Mentakab, a small town in Pahang, Stephen was surrounded by food. His family has always been in the business, with his grandparents running a catering service and school canteen, while his parents sold satay and chicken rice. 

“I started helping out when I was just seven,” he said. “Growing up surrounded by food didn’t just teach me recipes; it ignited a passion that shaped my entire journey in the F&B industry.”

It was no surprise that he took up a culinary diploma and went on to work at Basilico, an Italian restaurant in Singapore’s Regent Hotel. 

His entrepreneurial journey only began after returning from Singapore during MCO, though. 

Back in his hometown, Stephen began selling door-to-door bento deliveries, and later expanded to selling ready-to-eat foods such as frozen meat rolls, burger patties, and stuffed dou pok at his hometown’s wet market. 

From there, he opened a stall at a hawker centre serving pork burgers and simple cafe pastas like bolognese and cream carbonara. 

“Only to discover my hometown’s aunties and uncles were strictly Team Wanton Mee, not Team Pasta,” he said. 

Believing in his vision, though, Stephen moved his operations to Kuala Lumpur. With a condo-kitchen setup, he sold frozen food and bento deliveries to offices. 

Bit by bit, demand grew, and he upgraded into a proper kitchen space at Infinity Tower. It was originally meant to be a central kitchen, but things suddenly changed when MCO officially ended and dining trends shifted. People were out and about, sick of deliveries and home cooking. 

“I faced my toughest challenge yet. With limited capital, all the equipment I’d bought for the central kitchen, and a whole lot of unwillingness to give up at that point, I made my final pivot with one thought in my head: ‘Die jiu die la—better than nothing!’”

So, Stephen locked in and focused on what he knew best: pasta. 

Offering a local twist 

Drawing from his experience at Basilico, Stephen transformed the space into San Lou Pasta Bar.

The spot specialises in Asian-Italian fusion pasta cuisine, balancing authentic Italian techniques with local inspirations. 

One of their best sellers include the Kambing Stew Rigatoni, which reimagines Stephen’s grandmother’s lamb chop recipe in pasta form. 

“As a Malaysian Chinese running an Italian restaurant, I realised simply claiming ‘authenticity’ might not convince everyone,” he shared. “So instead, we celebrate both worlds with our slogan: ‘preserving heritage, embracing local,’ where my culinary training meets my cultural roots on every plate.”

Some other interesting menu items include the Burrata Bingsu, 8 Spices School Prawn, and Chili Crab pasta, amongst other starred dishes. 

About 80% of the menu is handmade, Stephen revealed, from their signature tagliatelle and tortelloni pastas to all the sauces. 

Making things fresh also means costlier operations, though. This is especially the case since San Lou uses key ingredients that are imported from Italy. 

Despite this, the team endeavours not to raise their prices frequently. 

Stephen explained, “When setting our menu prices, we intentionally keep them more economical and friendly—partly because our restaurant ambience isn’t fancy or atas, but more importantly because we genuinely want to serve good pasta that remains affordable for everyone.”

A dedicated service

Since San Lou’s location was initially meant to be a central kitchen, it’s not really the most suitable spot for a restaurant. 

There are challenges such as less footfall, which not just affects customers but also labour.

Seeing the silver lining, Stephen shared, “But over time, we’ve realised some customers appreciate our unconventional location. Many tell us they enjoy the experience of discovering what feels like a hidden spot in the city.”

Fresh pasta has become quite a popular undertaking in Malaysia, though, from roadside stalls to kiosk-styled stores offering it. 

But Stephen believes that San Lou’s promise of genuine homemade care at fair prices makes them stand out. 

“Every detail—from the food and service to the cutlery customers use—reflects our dedication,” he insisted. “We polish our cutlery daily, and only serve dishes made fresh. If the quality of any ingredient falls short, we won’t use it.” 

The team also takes pride in their service: Every dish is thoughtfully explained so guests can fully appreciate what they’re enjoying and the effort behind it. 

“From start to finish, we aim to deliver an experience that’s both heartfelt and high-quality, because we believe that’s what truly makes a place special,” he determined. 

Not in it for the dough

Currently, the San Lou team comprises five dedicated members including full-timers, part-timers, and family members. 

As time goes on, though, Stephen has every intention of expanding the team. He’s specifically looking to hire two key talents—a full-time front-of-house staff to enhance service, and a full-time kitchen staff to strengthen their kitchen team. 

But like most F&B businesses, manpower is a struggle. 

“There are days we even rely on family members to pitch in,” he pointed out. 

“But this makes our customer loyalty even more meaningful: My proudest achievement isn’t just surviving, but that over 70% of our customers are return guests who bring friends and family. When people come back for your pasta—not just once, but repeatedly—you know you’re doing something right despite the hurdles.”

With a stronger, more permanent team, Stephen has ambitions to expand San Lou. This involves not just expanding their menu, but also the restaurant’s facilities and atmosphere. 

Evolving from his humble bento deliveries, he now hopes to deliver authentic Italian cooking with localised flavours to the masses.  

• Learn more about San Lou Pasta Bar here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: San Lou Pasta Bar

These M’sians hope to make tuak our national liquor by bringing them into Klang Valley bars

Over the years, my drink of choice has evolved significantly.

From the broke college days of vodka and coke to having a glass (or two) of Moscato every other night, my choice of poison has reflected my state of life, being a loyal evolving companion throughout my journey (you might see this as addiction, I see it as growth).

The latest development? Tuak!

A sweet yet subtle liquor that offers complex flavours and a smooth drinking experience, quickly making it my go-to drink at bars and speakeasies, it eventually led me on a search for the best tuak out there.

Enter Tuak Alus

I first learnt about Tuak Alus at one of their pop-ups held at The Row KL.

“Would you like to try our tuak?” said the seller, offering a selection of three flavours.

And how could I say no to free drinks? (Please note that I am not an alcoholic. I just like good booze, there’s a difference.)

As I had always liked pandan I had chosen to go with that first.

Even before taking a sip from the plastic shot cup it was poured into, the delightful tropical and creamy aromas of pandan wafted up my nose, adding to the complex flavours of the rich and sweet yet boozy rice wine.

The same delights were imparted by Tuak Alus’ two other flavours, Indu and Laki, offering a sweet palm sugar profile and a stronger boozier flavour respectively.

And although I was already rather familiar with the Sarawakian liquor, Tuak Alus’ complex notes enticed me enough to pitch their story to my editor, which is why you’re currently reading this.

Humble beginnings

First founded by three friends (two Sarawakians and a self-proclaimed tuak lover), Tuak Alus came about from a feeling of homesickness.

“Tuak Alus began with a shared commitment to recreating the taste that held endless memories during Gawai. Coupled with a fiery passion for Sarawakian culture, we felt the world needed to experience this traditional drink too,” founders Ayden Chong and Raffly Langi told Vulcan Post.

Before founding Tuak Alus, Ayden was in marketing before switching over to recruitment, which he’s been doing for the past five years, along with a side gig running a durian and coffee business.

Kuching-born master brewer Raffly, however, holds a much different story. He was working as a service engineer since 2014 until being retrenched during the COVID pandemic led him to fully commit to Tuak Alus.

“It all started in a condo room with just the passion to brew and R&D a high-quality tuak here in Semenanjung,” said the founders, adding that a mere RM1,000 was invested as capital from their own savings.

“After countless R&D sessions (and drunk ones too), we developed our own yeast strain that gives Tuak Alus its smooth yet strong taste. In Iban, Alus means ‘smooth’—and that’s how the name came to be.”

“We shared it with friends and family, and soon, people began requesting more and buying from us. That’s how we began building the brand from scratch,” said the duo.

Soon enough, the brand began serving cocktail bars, wedding events, and even Borneo-themed festivals, like the Harvest Festival events.

Thus, they officially set up Tuak Alus and opened a shared office space in Kuching. Here, they work on selling tuak that is brewed with locally sourced ingredients that support the communities there.

Keeping the pace

Since their early days, Tuak Alus has gone from participating at events via pop-up booths to delivering their products across the country.

Despite tuak being a lot more accessible in bars and restaurants across the peninsula, the duo remarked on the growing competition as part of a close-knit community, supporting each other with ideas and solutions to grow tuak as a category.

And although the brand has been successful in bringing tuak to a diverse audience, their sights remain on the communities that carry on the legacy of the indigenous Sarawakian population that first made the drink.

From hosting pre-Gawai celebrations to Bornean dinners, Tuak Alus has proven itself as not just some business hoping to capitalise on indigenous cultures, but also as an honest move to preserve and inject Sarawakian tradition into an increasingly homogenous society.

“We’re not just selling rice wine—we’re representing Borneo’s heritage and culture, passed down through generations. Our recipes are adapted from family traditions, refined through years of R&D.”

Looking forward, the duo hopes to eventually open a physical experience store, where people can see how they brew and learn about the process firsthand, with further plans to expand their reach to neighbouring countries.

They have also just recently started making deliveries to customers in Klang Valley and beyond, taking the Sarawakian liquor to more communities around the country.

“Our goal is to be in more bars and create unique tuak-based cocktails. We want to promote tuak as a signature drink of Malaysia’s indigenous tribes, especially from Sarawak.”

“Our slogan is: Sarawakian Tuak, made for the world, and we hope for tuak in Malaysia to be on par with Japan’s sake, Korea’s soju, China’s baijiu, and Russia’s vodka,” said Ayden.

• Learn more about Tuak Alus here.
• Read our other stories on the F&B scene here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Tuak Alus

Handwritten names and empty stages: How GE2025 took an unexpected turn

Nomination Day for GE2025 will likely be remembered as one of the most eventful in recent memory—defined not by spectacle or fiery speeches, but for the quiet calculations, last-minute reshuffles, and one particularly unexpected walkover that reshaped the electoral map.

Behind the scenes, both the People’s Action Party (PAP) and the Workers’ Party (WP) engaged in a series of coordinated moves that suggest a more fluid and competitive political environment than in years past.

A surprise exit in Marine Parade–Braddell Heights

Perhaps the most surprising development came in Marine Parade–Braddell Heights (MPBH) GRC, where the WP—long seen as preparing for a contest—ultimately did not field a team.

Supporters who gathered at Kong Hwa School on Nomination Day, expecting a contest, were left surprised when no WP candidates appeared.

As a result, the PAP team, anchored by Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, won by walkover. It was the only uncontested constituency in this election, and the first walkover since 2011.

WP chief Pritam Singh explained the decision as a difficult one, citing the redrawing of electoral boundaries and the need to focus limited resources.

Still, the late announcement drew criticism, including from other opposition parties who suggested they might have contested had they known sooner.

Punggol emerges as a key battleground

Where WP pulled back in MPBH, it doubled down in Punggol GRC—a new constituency formed near its stronghold in Sengkang.

The party fielded senior counsel Harpreet Singh Nehal, one of its most high-profile new candidates, alongside three other first-timers.

It was a bold move in a constituency with no prior contest history, but clear strategic potential.

The PAP responded in kind. At about 11:20 am on Nomination Day—less than 40 minutes before the deadline—Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong arrived at Yusof Ishak Secondary School to file his nomination.

Notably, according to a report on Straits Times, his name was handwritten on the nomination papers, a sign of how last-minute the decision was.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan had initially been slated for Chua Chu Kang GRC. His late switch signals the weight the PAP places on defending Punggol, especially with the retirement of Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, who had anchored the area.

Known for his steady hand during the COVID-19 crisis and his new role as chair of the Singapore Economic Resilience Taskforce, Deputy Prime Minister Gan brings both national stature and experience to the slate.

He is joined by Sun Xueling, a well-regarded incumbent whose personal appeal and strong ground presence could prove influential in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched races of this election.

East Coast isn’t the fight this time

Compared to the high-profile shifts in Punggol, the PAP’s approach in East Coast GRC was noticeably more restrained.

Minister Edwin Tong leads a seasoned line-up, joined by Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, long-serving MP Jessica Tan, and new candidate Hazlina Abdul Halim.

It’s a team that reflects stability over spectacle—experienced, consistent, and largely familiar to residents on the ground.

There had been considerable speculation that the WP might make a bold play for East Coast, potentially fielding senior counsel Harpreet Singh or even party chief Pritam Singh—moves that would have raised the stakes significantly.

But the WP instead chose to field veteran Yee Jenn Jong, also a steady figure with prior campaign experience in the constituency.

The PAP appears to have accurately gauged this and calibrated its team accordingly—experienced, but without redeploying heavyweight ministers.

What the last-minute moves say about this election

The PAP’s decision not to field a Cabinet minister in the Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC—traditionally a given for each GRC—reflects a shift in strategy.

With limited leadership bandwidth and multiple constituencies requiring reinforcement, the party made pragmatic calls, reallocating ministers where needed most.

These moves were not random. In recent weeks, the PAP had already repositioned key figures: Indranee Rajah from Tanjong Pagar to Pasir Ris–Changi, and Law Minister K. Shanmugam leading a revamped team in Nee Soon GRC.

The final set of deployments—many revealed only hours before nominations closed—point to a dynamic campaign strategy shaped by close tracking of WP’s potential plans.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, addressing the press after nominations, acknowledged the complexity of the moment.

“I fully expect this election to be a tough contest,” he said. “My team and I will work very hard to make our case to Singaporeans and to win every vote in this changed world.”

For both major parties, GE2025 presents significant tests.

PM Wong leads the PAP into its first election under new leadership, at a time of global economic uncertainty.

For the WP, the campaign unfolds under the cloud of Pritam Singh’s ongoing appeal against a recent court conviction.

The next nine days of campaigning will be crucial, especially for candidates introduced or reshuffled at the last minute, who must now work quickly to establish rapport with residents.

What Nomination Day made clear is this: Singapore’s political landscape is evolving. Strategic ambiguity, tactical shifts, and constituency-by-constituency battles are becoming more prominent.

Now that the election season has begun, both parties must convince voters that their calculated choices were the right ones.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: Punggol GRC is the Workers’ Party’s biggest opportunity but also the toughest fight

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Workers’ Party

She grew her home-based biz into a cafe that catered IU and SUJU’s S’pore shows, here’s how

She had a career in the skies, but it was lost overnight when COVID-19 hit.

Instead of feeling demoralised, Chanel Li decided to turn to something she had enjoyed from a young age—baking—as a way to tide her through the tumultuous period.

From her home kitchen, she started Whisking Bakes in 2020, selling basque burnt cheesecakes—a dessert that surged in popularity during the pandemic.

However, as the hype died down, the business began losing its traction. At its lowest point, Whisking Bakes only received one order per week.

Unsure of how to move forward with her business and career, Chanel decided to take a two-month break to recalibrate and explore new ideas—one of which led to her first major breakthrough just as the Chinese New Year period approached in February 2022.

Her experimental bake, orh nee (yam paste) tart balls, sold out within minutes of launching order slots and continued to grow in popularity.

Despite this, Chanel didn’t plan to turn Whisking Bakes into a full-fledged business, as she still considered returning to the aviation industry at that time—until an interview with Mothership had her phone “exploding” with DMs, calls, messages and enquiries.

To cope with the demand, she took a leap of faith and opened a commercial kitchen located at Tai Seng in August of the same year. “After all, I was only 23 with nothing to lose,” added Chanel.

Opening a cafe

According to Chanel, the cost of opening her commercial kitchen amounted to S$30,000, funded by her earnings from her home bakery. To cut costs, she undertook the majority of the renovations herself, with the help of her husband and family.

However, after just shy of a year, she soon decided to move out of the commercial kitchen due to frequent power trips that hindered her operations, and to search for a bigger space that could accommodate a dine-in cafe.

Although she eventually found a shop space at Lavender, the path to opening was anything but a piece of cake. Her landlord had forgotten to submit a specific document when seeking approval for the cafe’s operation, resulting in a month-long delay.

Chanel also had to confront her inexperience in running a cafe, so she spent time observing how different businesses operated. She even took on a part-time barista role at Lola’s Cafe to learn the ropes, as well as a barista course at Common Man Coffee Roasters.

Armed with new skills, she opened her cafe in August 2022, specialising in taro desserts.

But then came another challenge: the layout of the cafe left her team working in cramped conditions, and the location itself made it easy for customers to miss the store, which resulted in a drop in sales.

This led Chanel to make another hefty gamble—to renovate the entire cafe once more, which she claimed cost an additional S$55,000.

While she admitted it was a significant investment, it was a strategic move to support the brand’s growth in the long term. She also took the chance to rebrand the cafe, expand its menu, and improve the overall ambience.

After a month-long renovation, the cafe opened its doors once more—this time under a more fitting name: Cafe Lilac.

Baking for music superstars and K-POP idols

According to Chanel, it took Cafe Lilac about six months to break even, and the business has since grown to become a six-figure venture.

Along the way, she’s also had the rare opportunity to bake for music superstars including IU, Super Junior, and Joker Xue.

All it took was a single message from Chanel to a concert organiser, offering to prepare a dessert table for IU’s two-day concert in Singapore last year.

“Being a K-pop fan, I know concerts often have cakes or desserts for the idols. I did it without much expectation, but one day, I received an email back, getting the thumbs up from the organisers,” she explained.

With a strong desire to give the best impression possible, Chanel and her team went “all out” in their preparations, from crafting detailed decorations to hand-piping a cake that matched her album cover.

Their dedication impressed the concert organisers, which helped them land more concert deals.

The cafe also received attention from the artistes’ fan clubs, who began partnering with Cafe Lilac for fan cafe events and concerts. These collaborations helped them secure numerous opportunities in 2024, with more to come this year.

It takes “a lot more than good food” to survive

While having a niche in taro desserts and drinks has helped the business stand out in the competitive F&B scene, it has also turned out to be a double-edged sword for Cafe Lilac. It loses out on a significant portion of the Singaporean crowd who simply don’t enjoy taro.

Ensuring that the business remains relevant has become an ongoing challenge for Chanel, who has observed the rapidly shifting preferences of consumers. “I think it takes a lot more than just good food [to survive.]”

Hence, Cafe Lilac is looking to expand its non-taro menu to cater to a wider audience, including those who are not huge fans of taro.

As for her long-term goals, Chanel states she doesn’t want the business to grow “too much.” While this seems contradictory to what many entrepreneurs strive for, she explained that her focus is solely on creating desserts her customers enjoy and building a company that journeys alongside its staff.

I don’t wish for us to become a multi-million dollar company where each staff [member] is just a part of the machine. I hope that everyone who works with us gains something out of the experience and achieves what they want in life.

Chanel Li

Now 27 years old, Chanel has always operated the business on a whim. While the journey was far from smooth, one thing is for sure: her hard work has borne some sweet fruits along the way. 

• Learn more about Cafe Lilac by Whisking Bakes here.
• Read more stories we have written on local businesses here.

Also Read: How this S’porean duo grew their bakery from beyond the home kitchen to 3 outlets & a cafe

Featured Image Credit: Cafe Lilac by Whisking Bakes

GE2025: Punggol GRC is the Workers’ Party’s biggest opportunity but also the toughest fight

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

When the PAP unveiled its Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC slate just two days before Nomination Day, I noted that the lineup was so formidable that the Workers’ Party might rethink going head-to-head.

And yesterday, Singapore’s largest opposition party did just that—surprising many with a last-minute pivot.

Instead of contesting Marine Parade, it fielded its star candidate, senior counsel Harpreet Singh, to lead the charge in Punggol GRC.

The move came as a huge surprise to many voters in the East. Harpreet Singh had been seen on party walkabouts in the area over the past two to three years, fueling speculation that he would contest Marine Parade—or, if not, East Coast GRC.

A unique opportunity?

Back in March, after the EBRC report was released, I noted that the newly redrawn Punggol constituency appeared to be an appealing target for the Workers’ Party—its close proximity to Sengkang and similar size and demographics made it a natural fit.

It’s clear the WP leadership saw the same opportunity and made the calculated decision to contest Punggol—though it came at the cost of abandoning voters in the East Coast.

It’s a bold and contentious move, especially after years of groundwork and public signals pointing toward a run in Marine Parade. If it pays off, though, the party could strengthen its foothold in the North-East region.

Still, voters in Marine Parade may feel let down, and many Singaporeans might view the sudden switch as unfair. After all, expectations had been built.

That said, PAP’s team in that particular GRC might have spooked the Workers’ Party, which doesn’t want to see Harpreet Singh lose—or at least not without a good fight.

The problem is that the fight in Punggol is not going to be easy either.

PAP responds with Gan Kim Yong

In response to the unfolding developments, the PAP swiftly reshuffled its slate, moving Tan See Leng from Marine Parade to Chua Chu Kang, where he steps in for DPM Gan Kim Yong, who has been deployed to counter the Workers’ Party challenge in Punggol.

Tan is now tasked with filling the shoes of Teo Chee Hean, who retired from politics this year, leaving the area without a heavyweight anchor. But it remains to be seen whether he’ll prove to be a formidable opponent for the Workers’ Party in this battleground.

Somewhat unusually, the PAP’s strongest asset in Punggol may not be a heavyweight minister, but Sun Xueling, whose likability is hard to rival.

Soft-spoken and warm in demeanour, the Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Social and Family Development is known for her relatable presence—she even reads children’s books online in her spare time. She’s an MP whom few Singaporeans would want to see exit Parliament.

That’s partly because much of the opposition’s appeal lies in discontent with certain policies and personalities. But Sun isn’t one of them—she’s largely free from controversy, making her a difficult figure to campaign against.

Now paired with DPM Gan Kim Yong, who also serves as Minister for Trade and Industry and Chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, the PAP has reinforced its frontline with a high-powered duo.

From a tactical standpoint, Punggol presents a high-upside opportunity for the Workers’ Party.

Its adjacency to Sengkang, coupled with a relatively young and diverse demographic, makes it fertile ground for opposition inroads. However, the PAP’s response—deploying both a well-regarded incumbent and a senior national leader—raises the stakes considerably.

For the WP, this is not just a high-reward contest; it is also the most formidable team they will likely face this election.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: From candidate switches to even a walkover, here are the key surprises from Nomination Day

Featured Image Credit: Workers’ Party/ Graphic designed by Vulcan Post

This biz helps brands in M’sia reach cities & kampungs with its 38k+ retail network

[This is a sponsored article with Ninja Mart.]

Even in this day and age when ecommerce is increasingly contributing to Malaysia’s GDP, the importance of having an in-store presence cannot be understated.

It’s that emotional connection of being able to see and touch the packaging in person that can help customers envision the product as part of their lives, leading, hopefully, to a purchase.

But getting your product on store shelves in the first place can be a whole challenge in and of itself.

Especially with small retailers who often fall outside the reach of traditional distributors, establishing trust can take time. Even for big name brands, a new product is still a leap of faith that not many retailers are eager to take from the outset.

And that’s where Ninja Mart steps in, a distribution solution by Ninja Van designed to seamlessly connect brands with retailers.

From urban to rural areas

Ninja Mart was launched in 2018 with a particular focus on getting fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) to rural and semi-urban areas. Think perishables in high-demand such as snacks, coffee, and home care products.

They specialise in general trade (GT) with over 38,000 partnered grocery stores, mini-marts, and independent retailers. This, Ninja Mart tells Vulcan Post, also includes petrol station convenience stores, traditional sundry shops, and warungs.

Rural areas in particular operate on a van sales model to prevent overstocking, as opposed to the pre-order and delivery system employed in urban and suburban areas.

Dictionary time: Also known as direct store delivery (DSD), a van sales model is a distribution method where suppliers deliver goods directly to retailers. In Ninja Mart’s case, this is done through their weekly visits, where Ninja Mart salesmen will bring along grocery items with them on their weekly visits to partnered retailers, where the retailers can then make a purchase on the spot based on their store’s specific demand.

Source: Law Insider

In connecting FMCG brands with as many points of sales as possible, Ninja Mart noted that this strategy allows products to reach a larger market potential at a lower cost.

And to boost brand visibility, they also run campaigns for brands which come packaged with a variety of services.

More than just a promotional push

The most recent example of Ninja Mart’s campaigns is their Kongsi Rezeki, Kongxi Huat! Campaign, which ran from January to March, 2025.

It was a collaboration with a total of 17 FMCG brands. At the end of the campaign, Ninja Mart saw a reported average 37% sales increase with partnered brands reaching over 8,500 independent retailers nationwide.

Among the participants is a household name to many, Julie’s. In their case, Julie’s wanted to make a push for their Choco More series.

There were also companies like Cricket Lighters, who were struggling with maintaining pricing hygiene due to distribution issues. They were looking for a solution to stabilise their supply chain.

The success of this campaign, as Julie’s and Cricket Lighters testified, came down to several strategies that Ninja Mart employed:

1. Spend & win campaigns

Conducted on the Ninja Mart app, the idea of this strategy was to reward retailers for actively selling the products of partnered brands.

Sales would translate into tickets, and the more tickets a retailer accumulated, the higher their chances of winning prizes. This included an iPhone 16, a PS5, massage chairs, and TVs. 

The end result was boosted product shelf visibility and sales as retailers now had a strong motivation to prioritise partnered brand products. This in turn strengthened brand-retailer engagement.

2. Brand focus weeks

As the name implies, brand focus weeks involved the offering of time-limited promotions for partnered brand products.

Julie’s, for instance, ran promotions which allowed buyers to mix and match their selections. Cricket Lighters on the other hand offered bundle deals with their products. 

This, in conjunction with Ninja Mart’s custom point of sales materials (POSMs) including tailor-made buntings, posters, and wobblers, helped products stand out on store shelves. 

The strategy turned out to be especially effective at sundry shops and mini-marts, where customers would often be overwhelmed with options.  

For those on the fence, it helped that goodie bags and free samples were up for grabs too.

3. Urban Brand Tours

Ninja Mart also hosted on-ground engagement sessions for brands and retailers to have a closer relationship.

Brands like Julie’s and Cricket Lighters were given the chance to directly observe how Ninja Mart’s sales team communicated with retailers, providing insights into pain points that retailers may have.

This strategy, according to Ninja Mart, allowed brands to better understand the day-to-day challenges faced by their end customers, which aided in building stronger brand-retailer relationships.

4. Data-Driven Brand Collaboration

Tying all that together were Ninja Mart’s monthly performance reports which came with actionable insights for brands to better their overall business strategies.

This included:

• Sales data with product performance by region, store type, and Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) which allow brands to pinpoint high-performing outlets and underpenetrated markets
• Market coverage insights which showcases how effectively products were able to reach target areas
• Retailer feedback which includes input about pricing, consumer preferences, stock availability, and even competitor activity

With these pieces of information, Julie’s and Cricket Lighters were thus able to adjust their marketing and stock strategies, as well as craft long-term strategic growth plans

Empowering brand scaling

Raymond Kwan, General Manager of Julie’s, noted that through the Kongsi Rezeki, Kogxi Huat! Campaign, their Choco More biscuits were able to reach over 1,000 retail outlets across Klang Valley, Melaka, Seremban, and Sungai Buloh.

“With Ninja Van managing logistics and execution, we engaged more effectively with retailers and reached new consumers,” he added.

Likewise, these sentiments were echoed by Darren Loo, Chief Operating Officer of Cricket Lighters Malaysia. He highlighted Ninja Mart’s communication skills in particular, which led to seamless on-boarding.

“We look forward to future growth together with Ninja Mart and a successful partnership ahead,” he said.

Whether a global player or a local brand trying to scale, Ninja Mart seeks to provide a flexible, inclusive model that works for brands of different sizes and maturity levels, they told Vulcan Post.

With campaigns also targeted to specific needs and not just festivities, their services might be the breakthrough you’re looking for.

• Learn more about Ninja Mart here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Ninja Mart

American names, Malaysian pride: Why these 6 local brands use names referencing the US

If you’ve been reading the news for the past couple of years, then you might’ve gotten the idea that the general opinion of America isn’t exactly the best at the minute.

Take for instance the Israel-Palestine conflict which lit the spark for many Malaysians to boycott big name American brands such as Starbucks and KFC, forcing outlet closures nationwide.

There’s also, of course, the tariff-fueled antics of the USA’s current president, who I’m sure needs no introduction at this point.

But regardless of your stance on the matter, I think there’s one thing that we can all agree upon: The last people that should be caught in the crossfire are local businesses.

With that, here are six Malaysian businesses that just so happen to have American names.

1. Chicago Chicken City (CCC)

CCC is a business that we’ve covered before here at Vulcan Post, both as an article and video. With that, we actually have some personal insight on the meaning behind this local fast food chain’s name, straight from founder Adrian Chin himself.

“The name ‘Chicago Chicken City’ was chosen because it evokes a sense of familiarity and authenticity tied to the Western heritage of fried chicken,” said Adrian in our interview with him back in February.

Adding to that, he believes Chicago as a city embodies “energy,” “vibrancy,” and a “bustling urban lifestyle,” all qualities that he wants to exude with his brand.

That being said, CCC’s founder also noted, however, that their menu is rooted in local tastes and preferences.

2. The Manhattan Fish Market

Although I may be allergic to fish now, The Manhattan Fish Market holds a special place in my heart as it was a chain my grandpa would take me to a lot when I was younger.

But as it turns out, it wasn’t always called that.

The Manhattan Fish Market actually started off as a franchise of a New Zealand fish-and-chips eatery called The Fish Shop in 2002. When the New Zealand-based company withdrew their support from Malaysia, however, local outlets scrambled to reinvent themselves in order to entice more customers.

That’s when George and his other two co-founders, Dickson Low and Jeffrey Goh, made the decision to rebrand to The Manhattan Fish Market.

Inspiration came from what George noted in an interview with Options to be “the two biggest fish markets in the world, namely the Tsujiki Fish Market in Japan and Fulton Fish Market in Manhattan.

The rebrand worked, revenue was said to have doubled, and the business became a franchise of its own.

3. San Francisco Coffee

San Francisco Coffee’s name has a pretty straightforward origin. Its founder, Robert Boxwell, was from San Francisco.

According to an article by WargaBiz, Robert had come to Malaysia on a business trip for Petronas.

Noticing that the local coffee scene at the time was a little lacking, he decided to open the business in 1997.

San Francisco Coffee was then taken over by Abdul Rahim Zin amidst the 2008 global financial crisis.

4. Big Apple Donuts & Coffee

Perhaps not the most obvious example, but “the Big Apple” is actually a nickname for New York City.

Our Big Apple was founded in 2007 by Mike Chan, with its logo and concept being inspired by the “American way of life” where “people take great ideas in a free spirited fashion.”

They wanted to go big on everything from the artistry of their donuts to the flavours that they pack.

And what better way to reflect that than with the nickname of America’s largest city by population?

Do note however that this information comes from their old “About Us” page under “Logo Rationale.” This page was up from 2009 to at least 2023, but none of this is mentioned on their current one.

5. NY Steak Shack

Operating under parent company Revenue Valley alongside The Manhattan Fish Market and Tony Roma’s, NY Steak Shack was founded by two local entrepreneurs in 2014.

Why they named it after New York, then, is because much like us, the city is a multicultural hotspot home to a 37% foreign population with over 200 different languages being spoken.

This naturally lends itself to a vast array of food choices which NY Steak Shake seeks to emulate, bringing the Big Apple’s flavours to home soil.

Which explains why they do quite a bit more than just steaks.

6. US Pizza

Doesn’t get more in-your-face than this one.

Founded back in 1997, US Pizza was started by Donald Duncan, an American who had previously worked at a pizza restaurant in Missouri.

Having developed his own recipe for dough and sauce, Donald would open US Pizza’s first (and for the longest time only) outlet in Penang after five years of working at that establishment.

He then sold the business in 2015 to Jeremy Hiew, who expanded it into the 86-outlet-strong franchise that it is today.

As for the name? That is simply a reference to the country where US Pizza’s signature recipe and Donald himself originated from: the United States (US). It does not stand for the word “us,” contrary to a now retracted claim independently made by one of the company’s outlets.

Why do we use Western names?

In short, two local businesses have American-coded names because it calls back to their origins. The other four do so because they’ve been inspired by what the American people have built for themselves in their respective home states.

It’s not a matter of ideals, or promoting the US. Perhaps it does speak to the psychology some Malaysians have whereby “west is best,” but these days, shopping and supporting local has become more and more fashionable and encouraged.

So the next time you spot one of these brand in the wild, be sure to remember that they’re not as foreign as they sound. Rather, they’re proudly Malaysian businesses.

• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: The Manhattan Fish Market / US Pizza / KL Gateway Mall

GE2025: Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC will be a walkover after WP no-show

​In a notable development for Singapore’s General Election 2025 (GE2025), the newly formed Marine Parade–Braddell Heights Group Representation Constituency (GRC) will be a walkover, with the People’s Action Party (PAP) securing the GRC unopposed.

This is the first walkover since 2011, when the PAP team led by then-minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew clinched Tanjong Pagar GRC.

This outcome follows the absence of opposition candidates, including those from the Workers’ Party (WP), who were previously speculated to contest in this GRC. ​

The WP has contested in Marine Parade since GE2015; however, it appears that the party has decided that its best chances for victory lie in fielding strong teams in Punggol GRC and Tampines GRC, instead of Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.

PAP has also pulled another surprise move, with the replacement of Tan See Leng, who was originally slated to be part of the Marine Parade team, with new candidate Goh Pei Ming, a former chief of staff at the Singapore Armed Forces. 

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: Here are all the key highlights on Nomination Day

Featured Image Credit: Goh Pei Ming/ PAP/ Diana Pang

GE2025: From candidate switches to even a walkover, here are the key surprises from Nomination Day

It’s Nomination Day today (April 23), and it has been filled with key changes and last-minute swaps.

Here’s a quick breakdown of all the key highlights:

1. Multi-cornered fights

Tampines GRC:

Radin Mas SMC:

Sembawang GRC

Ang Mo Kio GRC:

Potong Pasir SMC:

2. Shocking switches

Chua Chu Kang GRC

Punggol GRC

East Coast GRC

3. Walkover at Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC

GE2025 saw a walkover at the five-man Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC today, as no opposition party’s papers were put up for the constituency.

This marks the first walkover since 2011, when the PAP team, led by then-Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, clinched Tanjong Pagar GRC.

4. DPM Heng Swee Keat & Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean’s retirement from politics

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced the retirement of two political veterans: Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat and Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.

“Both could have continued, but they chose to step aside to make way for leadership renewal. I am deeply grateful to them, and I thank them for their many contributions,” wrote PM Wong.

DPM Heng Swee Keat, who has been in politics for 15 years, urged residents in East Coast GRC to provide their strong support.

The new East Coast team consists of Mr Edwin Tong, Singapore’s current Minister for Culture, Community and Youth; Mr Tan Kiat How, Ms Jessica Tan, Ms Hazlina Abdul Halim and Mr Dinesh Vasu Dash.

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, who has a 33-year tenure in parliament, had previously announced that he would not be running for the election under the Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, although he mentioned that he remains “available to contribute.”

Mr Teo has since passed the baton to Singapore’s Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Indranee Rajah, Mr Desmond Tan, Mr Sharael Taha and Ms Valerie Lee.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Featured Image Credit: Lawrence Wong via Instagram, Workers’ Party via Instagram

Also Read: GE2025: Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC will be a walkover after WP no show

Coffee as a preworkout? Here’s why this M’sian holistic wellness centre recommends it.

[Written in partnership with RENN Asia Wellness, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice.

If you can’t tell by my coffee reviews and coffee comparisons, I’m a huge coffee fan. I wouldn’t go so far as to say addict, but I’m certainly an… enthusiast. 

That’s why I was particularly thrilled to hear that coffee is actually healthy. 

Now, I’m not here to be some random stranger on the internet echoing unproven sentiments of how chugging coffee is good for your health. Because it’s not. Yes, like many things in life, coffee’s health benefits come with terms and conditions. 

So, we got Jonathan Chew, the founder of RENN Asia Wellness, a holistic wellness centre in KL, to shed some light on the topic. 

It’s nutritional and functional 

As a Nutritional and Functional Medicine (NFM) practitioner, Jonathan advocates “Nutritional Functional Food.” As the term implies, these are foods that are nutritional and functional. 

Specifically, to be classified as a Functional Food, an ingredient should:

• Provide a health benefit beyond basic nutrition
• Contain bioactive components with scientifically-backed effects
• Not harm the body when consumed in reasonable amounts

“In the eyes of NFM, foods are evaluated not just for calories or macros, but for bioactive compounds that influence health at the cellular level,” Jonathan elaborated.

To him, coffee certainly fits this bill because it contains:

• Chlorogenic acids, which are anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitising
• Polyphenols, which support gut microbiota and reduce oxidative stress
• Trigonelline and niacin (B3), which boast neuroprotective benefits

Coffee isn’t the one special ingredient that has nutritional properties, though. Other NFM ingredients include turmeric, mushrooms, fermented foods, seaweeds, matcha, and many more. 

“These are common functional foods we advocate for every client at RENN Asia Wellness,” Jonathan said. 

From work to workouts 

Beyond just being a good stimulant to add energy (and that bit of happiness to our lives) though, Jonathan touts coffee to be a great pre-workout alternative. 

But really? Why coffee instead of the many pre-workout options in the market that are literally designed to be consumed… pre-workout?

“Coffee, especially when consumed black, is a whole-food extract, not a cocktail of synthetic stimulants and artificial sweeteners,” Jonathan argued. 

“Most commercial pre-workouts are highly processed and often come with excessive stimulants, artificial sweeteners or colours, and hidden proprietary blends that mask exact dosages.”

On a financial level, coffee is also just a more sustainable option. 

But mind you, it’s the caffeine doing the heavy lifting, so drinking anything decaf is kind of moot. 

“However, decaf still contains antioxidants and may support general well-being—but not in a pre-workout context,” Jonathan added. 

To that end, though, you might be wondering whether other high-caffeine drinks such as matcha work the same. 

“Yes… and no,” Jonathan said. Let him explain. 

Matcha, like coffee, has caffeine, but also something called L-theanine, which promotes calm focus. It also has more EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate) which is an anti-inflammatory, thermogenic chemical. It’s also gentler on the gut with a longer energy curve.

“So while matcha can be a great alternative pre-workout, especially for those sensitive to coffee, its mechanism is subtly different. It boosts endurance and focus without the adrenal spike,” he explained. 

In other words, it works—just not in the same way. 

But let’s not get it twisted

Of course, coffee isn’t just some magical miracle substance (cue Demi Moore). 

Like Jonathan says, “It’s important not to romanticise coffee as universally beneficial.”

Risks include overstimulation, which will lead to insomnia, anxiety, and palpitations—a nightmare concoction especially prior to a workout. 

Too much caffeine can also cause adrenal fatigue in those already stressed or depleted and increase stomach acidity, leading to reflux and gut lining irritation.

Plus, there’s the issue of dependence and tolerance, which means you may eventually require more for the same effect. 

And it’s not just a matter of needing more coffee. According to Jonathan, it’ll desensitise adenosine receptors (resulting in less restful sleep), lead to habitual use masking deeper fatigue, and cause withdrawal symptoms (meaning more fatigue and irritability).

“Continuously upping your dose is not sustainable,” he said. “It’s like yelling louder to wake up a tired body when what it truly needs… is rest and nourishment.”

The best way to drink your coffee

And of course, not all coffee is made the same. I’m not talking about the type of origin, roast, or extraction method (though that matters greatly when it comes to flavour profile). I mean, you can’t just drink a vanilla bean latte and think it’s perfectly healthy.

It’s best to go black with your coffee, meaning no milk or sugar to avoid insulin spikes and preserve fat-burning. So no, no kopitiam kopi for you before a workout. 

But if that gets boring, you could opt for plant-based milk (dairy can blunt the antioxidant absorption of coffee), or even add a bit of coconut oil or ghee, which Jonathan says can provide sustained energy without disrupting function.

Jonathan also shared that 30 minutes before a workout is ideal. In terms of volume, he suggests 100 to 200mg of caffeine (one to two espresso shots).

Another cool tip is to take occasional caffeine breaks to reset tolerance. Oh, and avoid drinking coffee on an empty stomach if it causes distress. 

So, if you want to leverage the healthy properties of coffee, be sure to take it in moderation, and take it with the above knowledge in mind. 

• Learn more about RENN Asia Wellness here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about RENN Asia Wellness here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Vulcan Post

The Samsung Galaxy Ring is a cool concept, I just wish it could do more

The future is now, with health tracking literally at your fingertips (well, almost).

I’m talking about the hot new wearable in town—the Samsung Galaxy Ring. 

I was excited. Finally, something new to review that wasn’t another phone or watch or earbuds. I had expectations, but most of all, I had questions. 

Would this ring have a place in my life?

Looks matter…

When it comes to wearables. Sure, functionality is first and foremost for many of us, but surely few of us want to be caught wearing something ugly… Right?

On the topic of looks, I find the Galaxy Ring to be a bit too masculine for my tastes. The glossy gold variant we got made me feel like a taikor (I was just missing a chunky gold chain around my neck), so if you’re not going for that look, perhaps the matte Titanium Black or Titanium Silver would be more reserved.

One thing that does bother me a bit regarding the sleek titanium finish of the ring is how easily it seems to tarnish. Much like a shiny phone screen or back, fingerprints are unavoidable, and I’m not equipped with the right kind of tools to properly polish the surface. 

My hands are on the drier side, and even I’m leaving marks on the ring, so to whoever typically has oiler or damper hands and is bothered by fingerprints—stay strong, soldier.

The ring comes in sizes 5 to 15, and can weigh up to 3.3 g depending on size. It’s decently comfortable, and you can ignore its presence for the most part, even when sleeping. 

Where I ran into problems with the ring was when washing my face, showering, or doing the dishes. Its water resistance wasn’t the issue—it has an IP68 rating—but rather its chunkiness, which would dig into the skin of my face or body, and would clink a little too much against my dishes.

And if you’re not used to wearing rings like I am, just be careful if you wear glasses because I’ve bumped the ring into mine more than once, with at least one scratch on the lens courtesy of it. 

Keeping a pulse on my health

Some parts of my health, at least. Namely, the Galaxy Ring tracks sleep, stress, heart rate, steps (and calories), and supposedly menstrual cycles too (by way of body temperature).

Some of these metrics combined then give you your daily energy score, which points out areas of improvement or what health things you did well in. 

As someone who doesn’t wear wearables on the regular, I usually just rely on my phone to tell me my steps, but I do enjoy the occasional wearables review when I get more insights on my health through a smartwatch, or in this case, a ring.

I found the ring’s sleep tracking to be pretty accurate, with my own experiences of waking throughout the night reflected in my Wearables/Samsung Health app.

However, the stress tracker doesn’t quite tally with how I feel at times. There have been several times where I felt as though I was pretty stressed and manually started measuring my stress levels, only for the ring to tell me that I was in a relaxed or low stress state. Hmm.

I’m not a menstrual tracker by any means, preferring to live life on the edge, but I did it for once in my life thanks to the ring. Its prediction of my next cycle was off by a day, which was pretty good considering it only had data from last month to work with.

I would say that my cycles are quite consistent and predictable even without a tracker though, so I do wonder how well this would work for someone with irregular cycles.

Other than those features, the Galaxy Ring doesn’t do too much at this point in time. I suppose some people could benefit from the double-pinch gesture, which gives you remote camera control and turns off your alarm.

Since the S Pen no longer has Bluetooth support from the S25 series onwards, I could see the ring being useful for snapping pictures remotely. Unless you already have a Samsung Galaxy Watch that supports that functionality, of course.

Where the Galaxy Ring wins over the smartwatches though is in its battery life, which claims to last up to seven days on a single charge, and best of all, it supports fast charging. 

This means that it only has to stay off your finger for just over an hour before you can take it on another one-week spin. 

If you wear the ring in tandem with a Galaxy Watch, the battery lasts even longer as the watch can take over some of the ring’s sensor functions.

Verdict

The Galaxy Ring is truly an interesting piece of technology, but in its current form, I can’t see it being a necessary part of my lifestyle.

There’s just more that I would want from a wearable, not just in terms of health tracking but as an extension of my phone. 

The ideal Galaxy Ring for me would be one that also allows me to turn off timers (useful for when my hands are busy cooking or cleaning) and to pick up and end calls, alongside more health-tracking features.

Even better if it could do all of that and be hosted in a daintier body. 

If you’ve realised that smartwatches aren’t for you, though, perhaps the RM2,099 Galaxy Ring might be the more stylish, health-tracking wearable you’ve been looking for all along, albeit at a more premium price tag.

• Learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Ring here.
• Read other VP Verdicts we’ve written here.

VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Joey Sofa’s performance in REXKL was the most creative furniture showcase we’ve seen sofa…r

[Written in partnership with Joey Sofa, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]

Over the weekend, we attended an event at REXKL. Before even stepping into the space, we were handed black satin blindfolds to put on.

With our blindfolds on, we were guided by a gentle hand and a friendly voice motivating us to take each step down the short flight of stairs into the open yet warm space on the first floor of the building.

“Come on, you can do this!”

“Don’t worry, I’ve got you.”

“Good job, I’m so proud of you,” the person said to my unseeing self, before leaving me to guide the next attendee at the space’s entrance.

As sus as the whole interaction sounds thus far, don’t get the wrong idea—we were actually there for Joey Sofa’s latest event, held in collaboration with Rexperience.

Minutes later, we were prompted to remove our blindfolds, and the collection of micro-influencers clad in trendy getups that formed the audience were treated to a space made vibrant by scenic projections and sofas in an array of colours.

At the front and centre sat a lady in white, reading on a Joey Sofa as the audience took their seats on other ones that faced her.

Then came the music.

A sofa for different moments in your life 

The modular Joey Sofa can be customised into four different orientations, fit for multiple social settings and sleeved in one of eight vibrant colours of corduroy.

Sitting in Colour represents one of the brand’s first forays into the experiential space since the Joey Sofa’s launch about three months ago.

Lacking a brick-and-mortar store, the Joey Sofa brand has relied on taking over physical spaces to give interested audiences a feel for their comforts, only this time, they took it a little further.

As the soft ambient music played, a man joined the woman on the couch, backdropped by a view of ocean waves and the setting sun. 

With the duo dancing the story of love and its comforts and conflicts, the walls of the Rexperience space shifted too through various natural scenery; from a bright sun against an orange sky to a snow-white icy waterfall, to a cacophonous green forest.

Indeed, the projections reflected the eight colour options of the Joey Sofa interspersed throughout the hall, which comes in Seashell (light grey), Beach (beige), Sunset (orange), Peony (pink), Mist (blue), Sage (light green), Forest (dark green), and Stone (dark grey).

In each act the duo would change the orientation of the Joey Sofa, from the classic couch to conversation pit to a flat bed, showcasing the versatility and ease of use of the sofa, before ending the performance laying on the ‘movie’ orientation, with pink flowers and petals floating in the background.

“Sitting in Colour, this show, is our little love letter to all the shades of comfort. At Joey, we believe that comfort is not just sitting or sleeping; it’s a feeling, a vibe, a little piece of home that you carry with yourself. It’s an unspoken language that connects us all.”

– Joey Tan, co-founder of Joey Sofa

My review? The performance was a heart-pulling display of the comforts of love, and it did well at incorporating the Joey Sofa into the story.

Sharing the moment

“We wanted people to come and truly experience the colours [of the Joey Sofa]. Like the pink flowers for the ‘Peony’ sofa and the jungle visuals for the ‘Forest’ sofa, we wanted people to really sit in colour and be taken away, on an experiential journey through the different shades of the Joey Sofa,” said Joey.

As such, after the performance, audiences were free to enjoy and modify the sofas to different orientations, for a full feel of the product.

“We were inspired by the reception of the pre-launch giveaway, which received about 5,000 to 6,000 shares, which was presented in the form of a moodboard. We wanted to turn that into an immersive experience,” said Winson Chong, another one of the co-founders.

Beyond the performance, guests were also given the chance to take their “Glow Portraits” to “capture their vibe,” share a message at the “Wall of Colour,” and even take home an embroidered pouch that we got to customise with our initials.

All in all, Sitting in Colour proved to be a fun experience that perfectly displayed the features and beauties of the Joey Sofa.

Currently selling for RM2,995, with the option to split the cost into 24 monthly installments with zero interest, the Joey Sofa offers consumers a relatively affordable product, built to last with its highly durable corduroy fabric, rating 75,000 on the Martindale scale.

Dictionary time: Essentially, the Martindale scale is a measure of the durability of textiles, especially those used for upholstery. According to JustFabrics, scores under 30,000 are best for domestic use, while those above 30,000 can be used for heavy commercial use as well.

Take a seat for yourself

For the next six months, the Rexperience space will be populated by the Joey Sofas, offering visitors a hands-on experience of the modular product, and the visual performance would also be played as an interlude between Rexperience’s regular programmes.

If you’re looking to see just how well they fit into your homes, however, the Joey Sofa offers customers a 99-day home trial, with an easy return process if you change your mind.

“This collaboration marks a bold new step for Joey Sofa as it moves beyond the home and into the world of design, creativity, and community, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who came, lounged, and shared this moment with us,” said Joey.

Indeed, this latest event under Joey Sofa is a testament to the founders’ commitment to being a trailblazer for the industry. Similar to their other venture, Joey Mattress, it seems that the duo are constantly looking for opportunities to redefine just what it means to be a furniture business.

• Learn more about Joey Sofa here.
• Read our other startup stories here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

All Image Credits: Vulcan Post

He quit auditing to pursue F&B, now his health food biz is set to make RM4.5 mil this yr

Even before he co-founded Agrain, Kee Wei has always been quite the high achiever. 

Born and raised in Alor Setar, Kedah, Kee Wei completed his A-levels at Abbey College, Cambridge, obtaining 1A* and 2As. Continuing his studies in the UK, he pursued a degree in Accounting and Finance at the University of Warwick.

He said, “I picked the course because I loved numbers, I loved money, and I thought this degree seemed like the most straightforward path to both!”

After graduating, Kee Wei started his career at one of the Big 4 accounting firms in KL. Steadily, he climbed up to Audit Assistant Manager. 

“I didn’t hate the job, and I loved my team,” he mused. “But the rigid corporate environment, the layers of hierarchy, the repetition, etc., just didn’t feel like me and definitely not something that I look forward to after waking up.”

After years of preparing balance sheets and P&Ls for other businesses, Kee Wei realised he wanted to create something of his own. 

Joining hands 

On the fateful night of his 25th birthday, right after he made a wish to own a business one day, Kee Wei received a phone call from his cousin Jason, whose friend was looking to sell off a café business. 

Seeing it as a sign, Kee Wei took on the opportunity. This business was The Townsmen, a now defunct café. 

At the time, Kee Wei juggled full-time auditing and operating a café. It was a huge toll, but it taught him everything he needed to know from registering a company with SSM to managing payroll. 

“It was raw, intense, and hands on—thinking back, it felt like a crash course for entrepreneurship,” he recalled.

It was this experience that really led him to start Agrain. 

Remember cousin Jason? Well, back in 2016, Jason had launched a healthy burger brand called HALE. While it found traction with expats, it didn’t quite click with Malaysians. 

But Jason, his friend Kendrick, and Kee Wei believed locals were growing more and more health conscious, and wanted to reimagine what healthy food could look like for Malaysians. 

“What if we took the concept of mixed rice?” they wondered. With this, Agrain got its start in 2018. 

Bumps along the way 

The vision was clear: becoming the McDonald’s of healthy food. They envisioned a fast-casual chain offering delicious, healthy meals at affordable prices. 

More than good prices, they offer good value—100% real ingredients, made from scratch, no MSG, no preservatives, and no processed food. 

Agrain also believes they were the first in Malaysia to offer a macro calculator for every ingredient on their menu. Their website even lets users calculate their BMR and BMI. 

With their efforts, business grew fast. In year one, they were already up to five stores. At their peak, Agrain grew to eight stores and a central kitchen. But then, COVID hit. 

Their customer base of corporate crowds disappeared overnight, and so did the revenues. The pandemic humbled them, bringing the team back to ground zero. 

“At one point, we had to downsize massively just to stay afloat. And through that, I realised: I would rather run 10 profitable stores than 100 unprofitable ones. Quality over quantity. Value over vanity,” he decided. 

Kee Wei calls this their “massive reality check era”—an era that ultimately taught them lifechanging lessons. 

Specifically, the team learnt to operate lean. That meant fewer people, decentralised ops, data-driven menus, and a laser focus on what customers want, instead of what the team thinks is cool.

A new way to grow 

Changing things up, Agrain now expands by way of joint ventures, and their newest Mutiara Damansara is a testament to that. 

“Our first JV partner is actually a loyal customer of ours who believed so much in what we do that she decided to partner with us to fuel up our expansion plans,” Kee Wei explained. 

She funded 100% of the setup capital expenditure, while Agrain retained a majority stake in the newly formed JV company, allowing them full control of the brand. 

“We also prioritise distributing a greater share of dividends to our JV partners once profitable—it is our way of showing we are just as invested in the store’s success, if not more,” he said. 

With this model, Agrain is going all in on lean operations, speed-to-market, and control at the ground level. 

Profitable ag(r)ain

Speaking to Vulcan Post, Kee Wei was proud to share that Agrain is profitable—again.

“We suffered a heavy total RM2.5 million loss over the three years of the pandemic. But we are now back, stronger than ever,” he expressed.

For their latest financial year (2024/25), they expect to close RM4.5 million revenue, all with just two outlets. Kee Wei also reported around 30% year-on-year revenue growth and around 50x the profit amount from the previous financial year. 

With these positive figures, the former auditor aims to expand within Klang Valley using the JV model with like-minded partners. 

“Our north star is to have 50 stores across ASEAN,” he said. “We want Agrain to become a household name across the region—the Sweetgreens of Southeast Asia.” 

It’s not glamorous, but it’s worth the ride

After more than six years of running Agrain, Kee Wei has learnt (and unlearnt) a lot of lessons. 

Coming from a finance background, he used to believe that numbers could tell him everything. But in F&B? That’s not always true. 

For one, numbers alone don’t drive customer experience or culture. Sometimes, a marketing campaign might show a negative ROI in month one—but by month three, it’s what brings customers back time and again. 

“If you make decisions purely based on spreadsheets, you miss the human element that drives a F&B business,” he commented.

Over time, Kee Wei has also learnt that the angriest customers are often the greatest teachers. The nastier it gets, the more excited the co-founder seems to get. 

“Of course, the harsh language used at times may hurt you, but putting emotions aside, it is actually a shortcut to figuring out what was broken and how to fix it fast,” he shared. 

But he’s also grown to have healthy scepticism—he doesn’t just reflect on what is going wrong, but also what is going right. 

That, he shared, is how he keeps evolving. 

For others who may want to follow him in this path, Kee Wei has pearls of wisdom to share.

First, don’t come into F&B to make a quick buck. 

“F&B isn’t glamorous. It is a battlefield. You will face unpredictable operations, emotional rollercoasters, and razor-thin margins,” he emphasised. 

Secondly, listen to the experts. Then trust yourself. 

Especially if you’re like Kee Wei and coming from a different background, you don’t know everything. But that’s okay. 

“Learn from those who have been through the fire. But don’t lose the voice in your head. Your instinct still matters,” he shared. 

And lastly, be present and enjoy the ride. 

“Don’t obsess over where you would rather be that you forget to focus on where you are,” he advised. “F&B is a long game. You can’t possibly win tomorrow if you are not paying attention to today. And remember—tomorrows aren’t guaranteed.”

• Learn more about Agrain here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why the M’sian co-founder of this Australian marketing co. is now expanding the biz back home

Featured Image Credit: Agrain

How this Changi farmstay keeps things buzzing with their bee colonies & nature experiences

When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted his landscaping business, Country Cousins, Clarence Chua was faced with an urgent need to relocate his foreign workers.

His search led him to a shophouse in Siglap—which, by chance, came with an empty rooftop.

Immediately, a flood of ideas rushed to his mind, and together with his wife, Candice Li, he decided to turn it into a rooftop garden.

It was during this process that he discovered a nest of bees when moving an old garden shed.

“I knew nothing about bees then, so I got someone to shift it, but he was not able to come on time. So I tried to shift the bees myself.”

Several bee stings later, he successfully relocated the hive, but despite the painful experience, something else had taken root: a budding fascination with bees. 

Determined to learn more, he started teaching himself—online and by trial and error—how to rescue and keep bees, eventually offering bee relocation services.

After being encouraged by a friend, he decided to pivot and start The Sundowner, offering rooftop farm experiences at Siglap—but that was just the beginning.

As The Sundowner grew in popularity, the business expanded its offerings, with the House of Melissa Evelin farmstay being its newest addition.

Building a new home

The idea for the House of Melissa Evelin came when Clarence and his wife realised that their rooftop space was too small to accommodate larger groups.

This prompted a year-long search for a new location that could house a larger apiary.

“We searched across shopping centres, empty rooftops, even existing farms. Many landlords were afraid of our bees,” lamented Clarence.

That was until the Civil Service Club reached out to them—coincidentally, they were looking to offer nature activities to guests at their Changi Village chalet.

Seizing the opportunity, the couple said “yes” to the offer and began transforming the chalet into a farmstay in 2024.

Despite the potential for a million-dollar renovation, they managed to complete the project within S$80,000, which included a small investment from an investment banker friend.

Clarence clarified that he initially sought out contractors, but was shocked by the quotations he received. “The quotes from contractors were just too high—If we went with them, we would have spent five times the amount!”

He decided to—quite literally—take matters into his own hands and DIY different parts of the project, from carpentry to painting, to save costs. Together with a group of part-timers, the chalet was successfully revamped, and the House of Melissa Evelin launched just two and a half months later.

If two and a half months seems like a short time, that’s because we knew exactly what to do, as we had built up The Sundowner from scratch in the same way four years ago. 

Besides air conditioning, electricity, and plumbing, we did most things ourselves, so the main obstacle was inexperience. Who [among us] has ever built a hotel before? But we had the can-do spirit to just try.

Clarence Chua, co-founder of The Sundowner and House of Melissa Evelin

Sustaining itself in nature

At this point, you might be wondering: Who is Melissa Evelin?

She’s actually a fictional character created by the couple, who is a British naturalist and traveller—a story that plays into the colonial-style interior of the chalet.

The farmstay opened to much fanfare, with, according to Clarence, full bookings almost every weekend since last Christmas. It continues to see “strong, growing demand.”

Many of its customers also overlap with The Sundowner, as both businesses cater to the same target market—young families with more disposable income.

However, with any business in Singapore, the pressure to earn amid rising costs is one that many entrepreneurs continue to grapple with, especially when it comes to rental costs.

Located in less central areas, The Sundowner and House of Melissa Evelin benefited from more affordable rents, which allowed them to grow their audience sustainably.

“In contrast, if we wanted to start an unproven business, for example, in Orchard Road, and rely [on] its prestige to attract a crowd, we would have failed for sure, due to high rent. And the landlord will just be laughing all the way to the bank,” explained Clarence.

Currently, staffing also accounts for 20 to 30% of their costs; however, unlike other hospitality businesses, they intentionally avoid maintaining a roster of full-time employees, with only one full-time staff member on their team.

When asked about their decision, Clarence shared that one key concern is the risk of not being able to sustain full-time salaries during periods of lower demand, which might lead to layoffs.

This helps the business remain flexible and maintain healthy profit margins of around 15 to 20%.

Pursuing the green dollar

The House of Melissa Evelin reached operational breakeven in March—a milestone Clarence credits to the business’s adaptability. But the journey is far from over.

To drive continued growth, the team has introduced weekday discounts to boost off-peak stays and developed a suite of new activities that could cater to large group events, such as weddings and birthdays.

They are also supported by the SG Eco fund from the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment, which offers financial support for their permaculture tours and nature experiences.

Looking forward, although the House of Melissa Evelin currently operates on a short-term lease due to potential future plans for the area by the Singapore Land Authority (SLA), Clarence hopes that The House of Melissa Evelin can continue offering their farmstays and experiences in Changi in the long run, and play a part in conserving the area.

Pure commerce is not green. We believe that combining doing good for nature, with attracting locals tourists to do the same, is a way towards a profitable future. It’s more about passion than profit. 

We cannot take this concept and simply transplant it to another neighbourhood in Singapore. The vibe and narrative is just off. We hope this will show to [the] SLA the value of conserving these seafront chalets, instead of razing this area of natural and cultural history.

Clarence Chua, co-founder of The Sundowner and House of Melissa Evelin

• Learn more about House of Melissa Evelin here.
• Read more articles we have written on Singaporean businesses here.

Also Read: How this Singaporean built his own hotel brand using decommissioned city buses

Featured Image Credit: The House of Melissa Evelin

Astro is giving marketing support worth RM3 million to 200 F&B bizs under BIZone

We recently had a query: Can Malaysian businesses just play any music or show they want to on their premises? 

The short answer is a resounding “no.” The longer answer though, you can read here.

But you might be wondering—what about those mamaks or bars that play football matches? How can they (legally) air that content?

Well, one solution they could be using is Astro’s BIZone.  

In the zone with BIZone

Launched in 2024, Astro BIZone is a simplified pack for F&B outlets. It allows commercial establishments to air sports (and certain other content) on their screens. 

Specifically, BIZone provides a full suite of live sports coverage as well as entertainment content, including the biggest sporting events such as the Premier League, BWF Tournaments, Liga Malaysia, Sepak Takraw League, Formula 1, MotoGP, NBA, cricket, and tennis. There’s also 25 non-sports channels. 

Ensuring fairness, the pack also offers transparent pricing tailored to different business types and seating capacity.

A RM3 million rewards campaign 

A lot of businesses, especially SMEs, might find it difficult to invest in a solution like BIZone, despite Astro’s statistics showing that customers tend to stay in a store where content like sports is playing on the TV. 

BIZone’s newly announced initiative might sweeten the deal, though. To bolster the growth of SME F&B outlets, they have introduced a marketing support campaign with RM3 million’s worth of value. 

Through this, a total of 200 F&B outlets will be selected as winners to receive a share of the RM3 million’s worth of marketing support throughout the campaign period. 

The selection of winners will take place every month through a draw conducted by appointed Astro representatives. 

Eligible outlets stand a chance to gain the following marketing and media support: 

• Sports Watch Party: An all-expense-paid live sports screening experience hosted at the customer’s outlet, designed to draw crowds and turn any match night into a major event.
• Meet & Greet: Appearance by a top-tier celebrity or influencer, generating buzz, footfall, and memorable customer experiences.
• Food Review: Exclusive content creation by popular food reviewers or social media personality, spotlighting customer’s outlet and reaching thousands of foodies. 
• Astro Radio Ads: Customer’s outlet featured on any one of Astro’s leading radio stations targeting millions of listeners, thus building awareness across diverse audience segments. 
• TV Spots: Customer’s outlet showcased on Bulletin Awani or Borak SeeNi, tapping into Astro’s extensive national viewership for maximum reach.

This campaign is open to all F&B and commercial outlets that sign up for, renew, or upgrade their BIZone TV pack within the campaign period of April 7 to October 17.

Good for business 

Tan Sian Tuang, Head of Enterprise and Broadband Business, Astro said, “Through this campaign, we want to enable F&Bs to leverage the power of strategic marketing to achieve their business objectives.” 

The company wants to show how BIZone is a powerful business multiplier that delivers real value by driving footfall, increasing customer engagement, and enhancing brand value. 

Beyond the marketing support, though, BIZone does sound like a good solution that F&B businesses should consider. 

It might be an investment, but some businesses have been slapped with hefty fines for not following the proper channels when it comes to in-store entertainment. 

For one, it was reported that year that a nasi kandar chain had to pay Astro over RM200,000 for unauthorised broadcasts. 

Maybe this is one reason why BIZone has already demonstrated substantial growth since its launch last year, experiencing a 34% year-on-year increase in new customers, significantly outpacing the approximate 5% year-on-year base growth. 

Astro shared in a press release, “With a potential market size of 14,000 establishments, BIZone is steadily gaining traction. This growth in customer acquisition highlights its value as a business solution for F&B and commercial outlets across Malaysia.”

• Learn more about Astro BIZone here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: Astro BIZone

ASUS Zenbook A14 review: Lightweight, long-lasting, with lightning speed. What’s not to love?

For the past month, I had the chance to test ASUS’ latest offering under their Zenbook lineup, the ASUS Zenbook A14.

Even before receiving the product, I had my reservations against this new, ultralight laptop.

After all, aren’t laptops already pretty light? I’ve had no problem taking my Surface Pro 7 around for the past five years, and that thing already weighs not much more than the A14 despite being released in 2019.

Even friends and colleagues seem to be having no problem bringing about their hefty gaming laptops, decked with the most powerful processors and graphics cards.

As such, I had thought that the lightness of the A14 would be doing little in actually proving itself to be a standout laptop of its class.

I was wrong

From the second I had taken the laptop out of its box and onto my hands, its 899 g felt closer in weight to a notebook than a standard laptop.

Indeed, carrying the A14 around was never a hassle, and I immediately noticed the lightness of my laptop bag the first time I brought it home.

I decided to use the A14 as my daily driver for the next month or so, switching from my now two-minute battery life Surface Pro 7.

From carrying it around at events to actually using it lap-top in crowded hospital lobbies and car service centres, the A14 proved itself to be a practical work companion for the ever-moving professional with its lightness, build, and extended “edge-to-edge” touchpad which got me leaving my mouse at home.

The laptop also features a Ceraluminum build, a signature ASUS material composed of aluminium and ceramic which ASUS claims to be “lightweight, scratch resistant, shock resistant, and smudge-free,” a statement I found for the most part, to be true.

I know, I know. It’s only been a month. But as an excessive palm sweater who likes to keep his nails moderately long and is clumsy, I had half expected the laptop to show signs of wear, despite promising my editors that I would do my best to keep it looking its best (it is a review unit, after all).

By the end of the month, however, the A14 showed no scratch, held no stain, nor bore no tarnish, still true to the pretty brown beige colour it came in—Zabriskie Beige, ASUS calls it.

Moving on to its keyboard, the A14 provided a smooth and soundless typing experience, just the way I like it (maybe not for you mechanical keyboard users who want everyone to know just how much you’re typing, though).

“It feels like a MacBook,” said a writer friend, an Apple loyalist who has stuck to Apple laptops due to its keyboards and typing feel.

What about what’s under?

With it being a new product, I had high expectations for its overall performance in handling my day-to-day tasks, the most technically demanding of them being having up to 30 browser tabs running at any one time.

And for the most part, the A14 delivered.

Through the time I’ve had with the laptop, I noticed no performance issues, be it stutters or complete crashes. Then again, I’m not running Premiere Pro or Elden Ring on it, but with its Snapdragon X processor and 32GB or memory, you should be good to take it a little further.

With its claimed battery life of 23 hours, the A14 works great for those who like to work on the go, further bolstered by its Qualcomm Snapdragon X processor, which ensures no performance losses when using the A14 unplugged.

Even if the laptop ran low though, its 65-watt type-C fast-charge adapter made charging quick, even working for other devices with a type-C port and fast-charging capabilities.

Along with two USB-C ports, the A14 is also fitted with a HDMI port, a headphone jack, and a USB-A port.

The camera, however, was… fine, not really standing out from other laptop’s cameras, but it did do its job.

Now, let’s talk about what every tech brand loves shouting about, the “new” AI features, including ASUS with Microsoft’s assistant, Copilot.

In short, that did not work for me. Whether this was a laptop problem or a software problem, I don’t know, but as someone who does not use AI programmes, it didn’t really affect my workflow.

That said, ASUS claims that the A14 was built around giving users seamless access to AI models, from live captions to transforming sketches into pieces of art to even upscaling images, so if you find yourself going through third-party apps to do those tasks regularly, the A14 and Copilot might just help streamline your workflow greatly.

To sum it up

The A14 is a great laptop. It did wonderful at handling my writing and researching tasks and it would probably do well for a lot more too, given that it boasts the latest technologies and features in the tech world, from an upgraded processor to a more efficient battery.

That said, does it justify its RM4,999 price point? I think it does, especially for those who prioritise portability, AI productivity features, and aesthetics.

• Learn more about the ASUS Zenbook A14 here.
• Read other VP Verdicts we’ve written here.

VP Verdict is a series where we personally try and test out products, services, fads, and apps. Want to suggest something else for us to try? Leave a comment here or send the suggestion to our Facebook page.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

PAP sticks to its guns to defend Marine Parade. Will the Workers’ Party risk an open fight?

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

People’s Action Party has revealed its team for the redrawn Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC this election, and it’s hard to even notice that it lacks the former Speaker of Parliament, Tan Chuan-Jin.

Leading the slate is the Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng, who is joined by the current Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng, Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, former MacPherson SMC MP Tin Pei Ling, and newcomer Diana Pang, who’s spent 20 years in Fengshan as treasurer and chair of the Women’s Wing.

But it’s Tin Pei Ling who could give the PAP a boost within the new boundaries, after her SMC in MacPherson was absorbed into the group constituency.

She won her individual seat there twice in 2015 and 2020, with 65% and 71% of the vote, respectively. These wins proved her earlier critics wrong, who had made dismissive comments regarding her candidacy as a part of the Marine Parade GRC in 2011 as an attempt to smuggle a young, inexperienced candidate into the Parliament.

Her strong track record should give the party a boost, especially as it tries to distance itself from the extramarital affair scandal that cost Tan Chuan-Jin his political career.

At the same time, a failure to defend the constituency would be a huge blow to its ranks for the PAP, costing it a minister, Parliamentary Speaker and a popular, young MP with a bright career still ahead.

Will the Workers’ Party risk an open fight?

The leading opposition party is keeping its cards close to its chest so far and hasn’t revealed its candidates yet.

However, there has been strong indication that it was at least considering fielding its leading political transfer, senior counsel Harpreet Singh, in Marine Parade.

He was seen during walkabouts in the area over the past two years—including a recent tour of MacPherson just last month—fueling speculation that WP will try to grab the constituency weakened by Tan Chuan-Jin’s ejection.

However, as good a candidate as he might be, standing against a very strong lineup of the PAP is a big risk for the Workers’ Party, which previously announced it would contest fewer than one-third of all seats.

WP will be cautious not to expend its limited human resources on fighting fights that are difficult to win, hoping instead to find weak spots to take advantage of, like it did in Sengkang five years ago.

It’s not helped by the fact that Mr Singh is almost 60 years old already, and can’t really afford to spend the coming term outside of the Parliament if he intends to contribute as an MP.

If he fails to make it in now, it’s unlikely that the party would field him again in 2030, when he’s already past retirement age and might have a limited career as a politician ahead.

The delay in announcing its candidates suggests that the party might be weighing the option of fielding the seasoned lawyer in the neighbouring East Coast GRC or perhaps even one of the SMCs, where he could stand a better chance in a one-on-one fight (neighbouring Mountbatten SMC, in particular, springs to mind, as the PAP is fielding a newcomer there, after the four-time MP Lim Biow Chuan stepped down).

It’s difficult to say whether the decision to keep its choices a secret is a political manoeuvre or if WP leaders really haven’t decided where to place their pieces on the electoral chessboard, waiting for the PAP to make its moves first.

That said, after investing so much time and effort into making Harpreet Singh the fresh face of the party in this GE, they now have to utilise him in a way that is going to maximise his chances of victory as a leader of one of the constituencies, rather than just a member of a larger GRC.

And the PAP is not making it easy.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: Is tough luck for Desmond Lee the opportunity PSP has been waiting for in the West?

Featured Image Credit: PAP

Star-studded startup speakers unite in Ipoh for this unmissable entrepreneur summit

We know that startup events can seem super KL-centric and exclusionary—that’s why the Perak Ignite Entrepreneur Summit is one we’re excited to share, especially with our friends in the north. 

Organised by the Entrepreneurs and Startups in Malaysia (EnSIM), the Perak Chinese Assembly Hall (PCAH) is set to host the Perak Ignite Entrepreneur Summit 2025 on May 3.

Held at Dewan Tang Ying See in Ipoh, this event will feature a star-studded cast of speakers, leaders, and decision makers. 

They’ll be leading keynote addresses, panel discussions, networking sessions, and workshops to boot, perfect for entrepreneurs who want to glean expert insights and practical tips. 

Learn from the experts

If you’re not convinced of the value this event can provide you, though, let’s have the event’s entrepreneurial star power speak for itself. 

First, there’s Henry Ting, the founder and CEO of TTRacing, a Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia honoree and EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominee. 

Looking past the founder’s accolades, TTRacing has grown into a leading gaming chair brand, with a presence across Southeast Asia and beyond. Henry brings with him insights on building and scaling a global consumer brand from Malaysia. 

Francis Lui, founder & CEO of NexLaw AI, will also be present. A pioneer in legal technology, Francis leads NexLaw AI, which is a platform that offers legal research, trial preparation, and contract review—all through the power of artificial intelligence. 

With decades of experience in tech and a passion for innovation, Francis has expert knowledge on how AI has transformed traditional industries, and how you can tap into that.

Mike Chu, the bootstrapping founder of PTT Outdoor, has grown his camping store in Ipoh into a nationwide brand championing affordable, high-quality outdoor gear. 

This experience makes him a notable voice when it comes to shedding light on the realities of building a resilient business from outside the Klang Valley. He knows firsthand the power of community-driven growth—and now, he’s giving knowledge back to the community.

Multi-hyphenate Marcus Teoh, who is an entrepreneur, author, and startup mentor,  has penned many a bestselling book that offers practical business wisdom. He has a wealth of experience in guiding startups and young founders to success.

Dealing with manpower and talent concerns? Dr. Ewe Hong Tat, President/CEO of UTAR, will share perspectives on talent development and the role of universities in fostering the next generation of business leaders.

Last but definitely not least is Malaysia’s very own Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang. The Minister, who is from Perak himself, will deliver a keynote on Malaysia’s innovation roadmap and the government’s vision for empowering entrepreneurs in Perak and beyond.

Not just for the Perakians

You might be wondering, though—why Perak? 

Well, the organisers believe that Perak is emerging as a hub for young entrepreneurs, as marked by its many government incentives, strategic location, and thriving business ecosystem. 

And the organisers, EnSIM, run a Facebook group that’s over 200,000 members strong—we’re inclined to believe that they know what they’re talking about. 

Even our Economic Affairs Minister Rafizi Ramli said last November that Perak has good potential to be a contributor to the national economy compared to other states. 

While this event will share insights on how to start and scale a business that’s not in the Klang Valley, that doesn’t mean it’ll only benefit Perakians. 

Anyone who wants to tap into an opportunity to learn, connect, and take their entrepreneurial journey to the next level will still find treasure troves of value from this event. 

The event has already sold out of its Early Bird tickets. Standard tickets are now going for RM120 per ticket, so if you’re looking, be sure to lock down your attendance now.  

• Learn more about the Perak Ignite Entrepreneur Summit here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why the M’sian co-founder of this Australian marketing co. is now expanding the biz back home

Featured Image Credit: Chang Lih Kang via Akademi Sains Malaysia / Henry Ting / Mike Chu

How this M’sian went from delivering dairy to co-owning a multi-million ringgit milk biz

[Written in partnership with The Farm Shop, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]

Probably the single most frustrating part about trying to eat healthy is that it’s not just about having food, it’s about having the right food.

But here’s the thing.

“Sugar-free” often just means that it’s got a substitute in it that may be way worse than just sugar itself.

Finally found something “organic” or not too heavily processed? Well, just your luck, it’s not only more expensive, you can only get it from this one specific grocery chain or online store.

This is the frustrating experience Malaysians (that I can personally attest to) face in trying to watch what you eat.

And it was this realisation that emboldened Hasniza Binti Ali to continue her career with The Farm Shop. Little did she know, however, that she’d end up a fellow co-founder.

From behind a desk to behind a wheel

The Farm Shop is a women-founded, local business that sells and produces fresh and minimally processed foods. They deliver to grocery stores, retailers and homes, with one of their services being a milk subscription plan.

And it was here as a delivery driver that Hasniza would first find her start with the company.

At the time, Hasniza had just lost her job as a personal assistant following the closure of her previous workplace.

It was by complete chance that her mother had heard about a job opening through the grapevine, to which Hasniza applied without knowing the details.

This was for the business that would eventually become The Farm Shop, back then still just a side hustle run by her future business partner, Sushma Sivasriamphai.

The shift from office work to going door-to-door was a jarring one for her to say the least. Job aside, Hasniza wasn’t even a milk-drinker in the first place.

As a single mother with three mouths to feed, however, she thought of it as a matter of simply what she had to do. Quite the stark contrast to the person today who sees her current role as Home Delivery and Regulatory Director to be a “sacred responsibility.”

“Over time, I found purpose in what I was doing,” she added.

“Delivering fresh, high-quality nutrition wasn’t just a job; it was a way to make a real impact on people’s lives.”

The story of how she became one of The Farm Shop’s co-founders, then, came in 2019 through sweat equity.

That year, Sushma was incapacitated for months by something called “Guillain-Barré Syndrome,” a potentially fatal autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system.

With her suddenly out of commission, it fell on Hasniza to step up and keep the business running.

“When she recovered, Alhamdulilah, she made me a shareholder!”

Fun fact: In business, sweat equity refers to equity in a business venture earned by an employee through labour. The term takes on a different meaning in the world of real estate, where it instead refers to the value added to a property through physical labour and effort as opposed to investments.

A greener pasture

Hasniza and Sushma would meet The Farm Shop’s other two co-founders, Karen Kow, and Dr Tan I-Lene, over the course of running their business.

At the start, the two were simply just customers, with Hasniza being in charge of delivering milk to their shops.

“Eventually, it just made sense to join forces, pool our resources, and create something bigger,” she explained.

“That’s how The Farm Shop, as it is today, was born.”

It wasn’t all smooth sailing from there, however. The early days of the business were met with financial constraints, supply chain issues, and staffing challenges.

They were, as Hasniza puts it, a tiny operation with just a single fridge in a shared office.

“I remember when the four of us were squeezed into a single room big enough that if we kept our elbows tucked in, we could fit,” she explained.

“We laughingly refer to it as our butt-to-butt time!”

It definitely took Sushma’s catchphrase of “dua badan, satu kepala,” a little too literally, but that was just how it had to be.

Through secondhand furniture held together by thoughts and prayers, that first year of their business would be dedicated to ironing out the kinks in their production process.

“As we grew, we moved into a larger space, expanded our offerings, and hired a team to assist with deliveries,” the co-founder shared.

“But that core experience—understanding the needs of our customers firsthand—stayed with me.”

Next in store

As a testament to how far they’ve come, Hasniza claimed that they were able to achieve “3x year-over-year growth,” raking in RM4.58 million in revenue in 2024. That comes along with a funding of RM6.3 million, courtesy of their recently closed Series A fundraising round.

Quite ambitiously, The Farm Shop’s target for this year will be a revenue of RM14.4 million, with a further RM56 million in revenue targeted for 2026. 

They’ll also soon be launching their equity crowdfunding campaign with Leet Capital, welcoming those who see eye-to-eye with their vision to join them on their health crusade.

“I truly believe we are part of Malaysia’s journey towards a healthier rakyat, and I feel privileged to contribute to that goal,” said Hasniza.

Though the title “duchess of dairy” may be a self-proclaimed one, she certainly has the conviction of a duchess to match.

• Learn more about The Farm Shop here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: The Farm Shop

GE2025 checklist: Here’s what you will need to bring on Polling Day

Singaporeans will head to the polls on Saturday, May 3, for the country’s 14th General Election.

Whether you’re a first-time voter or not, it’s essential to be prepared. Here’s a straightforward guide to ensure you’re ready for Polling Day.​

Pre-vote checklist:

First things first, before you head to the polls, make sure to:

1. Verify Your Polling Station: Check your poll card for your assigned polling station. You can only vote at the station specified on your card.​
2. Plan Your Visit: Polling stations are open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Do not be late, as voters who are late will not be allowed to vote, even if they are in the queue before the station closes.

What to bring

1. NRIC or other valid identification

The most important thing: your NRIC (original or digital). This is your primary form of identification and is required for verification purposes at the polling station.

Alternatively, you may present other acceptable documents of identity, including:

1. Your passport, or
2. Identity cards issued by the Ministry of Defence, Singapore Police Force, or Singapore Civil Defence Force for uniformed personnel.

Do note that photocopies are not accepted.

2. Poll card

You can either bring along your physical poll card (which should be mailed to your residential address about two to three days after Nomination Day on April 23) or your ePoll card, which is available on the Singpass mobile app.

You can also log on to the Voter Services portal on the ELD website to retrieve your ePoll card.

3. A pen (optional)

Voters will be provided with self-inking X-stamps to mark their choice at the polling booths. However, if you prefer, you’re allowed to bring your own pen to mark your vote. Just ensure that your markings are clear to avoid spoiling your vote. ​

What not to bring

Things not to bring into the polling station include cameras, video cameras, alcohol, sharp objects, large bags and animals/pets (except guide dogs).

You also should not bring any document or material which shows a political party’s or candidate’s symbol. The law prohibits canvassing and all forms of election activity on Polling Day, except voting.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and more here.

Also Read: GE2025: What happens if you don’t vote on Polling Day in Singapore?

Featured Image Credit: Reuters file/ Designed by Vulcan Post

Backed by Mandai, this Singaporean startup offers custom nutrition & training plans for dogs

If you’re a proud (and slightly obsessive) pet owner like me, you’d know that our furry companions are more than just animals—they’re family. And when it comes to family, we want only the best.

A one-size-fits-all solution just doesn’t cut it when it comes to our pets’ care. That’s why homegrown dog care platform Pawpaw360 is taking a personalised approach, offering tailored nutrition and training plans that evolve with your dog’s unique needs, no matter their breed, size, or age.

Note: Unfortunately, PawPaw360 currently does not provide recommendations for dogs with serious health issues like kidney disease.

The company is backed by Mandai X, the growth acceleration and venture-building arm of Singapore’s Mandai Wildlife Group.

So, how does it work?

To get started, you’ll need to choose a plan for your pet. Pawpaw360 currently offers three options, as outlined on its website.

You can opt for the nutrition plan at S$38, the training plan at S$18, or take both for a comprehensive package at S$48. These are all one-time fees.

From there, you’ll then have to create a pet profile by entering key details about your dog—and that’s about it. Based on the information you’ve provided, the platform will generate tailored recommendations aligned with your chosen plan.

With Pawpaw360’s nutrition plan, pet owners will receive a nutrition assessment report, complete with a feeding guide based on specific goals—whether it’s maintaining your dog’s health or helping them lose weight.

The platform offers a variety of products, including base food, toppers, hydrators, treats, and supplements. It also calculates the exact portion sizes your dog should be eating based on their nutritional needs.

In addition, each plan comes with a complimentary custom taste test kit, so you can find out which foods your dog prefers before committing to full portions.

After receiving your pets’ personalised recommendations, you can conveniently place food orders via the platform, swapping them out for alternatives if needed based on your pets’ preferences. Each order will be delivered within two to three working days, with free delivery for orders above S$60.

You can also opt to receive reminders when you’re about to run out.

Meanwhile, Pawpaw360’s training plan offers a series of guided, levelled exercises that are tailored to match your dog’s learning pace and behavioural goals.

Recommendations are adapted over time based on your dog’s progress, needs, and preferences.

For both the nutrition and training plans, users can also book video consultations through the platform with Pawpaw360’s certified nutritionists and behaviourists. However, do note that additional fees apply for these consultations.

Pawpaw360 encourages users to regularly update their pet’s profile with the latest information to ensure recommendations remain accurate and relevant.

The platform recommends daily check-ins, which will allow it to monitor your dog’s wellbeing, such as changes in appetite, energy levels, and digestion.

This data allows Pawpaw360 to provide timely insights into how your dog is responding to their care plan.

Based on these trends, the platform can fine-tune its recommendations to ensure your pet continues receiving the most appropriate nutrition and training support.

An “all-in-one” platform

Currently, PawPaw360 is still in its beta testing phase, and is available as a Progressive Web App, which can be added directly to your phone’s homescreen. Users will receive step-by-step instructions on how to install the app during the onboarding process.

While the platform only offers nutrition and behavioural plans at present, they plan to expand their services to cover all five domains of animal welfare—Nutrition, Behaviour, Physical Health, Environment, and Mental Wellbeing—to support a more holistic approach to pet care.

These same domains are used by Mandai Wildlife Group in caring for the rescue dogs and cats housed at Kids World in the Singapore Zoo.

Ultimately, PawPaw360 wants to position itself as an “all-in-one” dog care platform, helping pet owners better understand and care for their furry companions at every stage of life.

• Find out more about Paw Paw here.
• Read other articles we’ve written on startups here.

Also Read: How this S’porean grew his pet care retail biz to make 6-figure annual revenues in one year

Featured Image Credit: PawPaw360 via Instagram

GE2025: Is tough luck for Desmond Lee the opportunity PSP has been waiting for in the West?

Disclaimer: Unless otherwise stated any opinions expressed below belong solely to the author.

The People’s Action Party (PAP) has unveiled its candidate team for the newly redrawn West Coast-Jurong West GRC, with National Development Minister Desmond Lee leading the team.

Joining him are two incumbents: Senior Parliamentary Secretary Shawn Huang, formerly of Jurong GRC’s Taman Jurong, and West Coast GRC MP Ang Wei Neng. They are accompanied by two new faces: 39-year-old orthopaedic surgeon Hamid Razak, and 33-year-old lawyer Cassandra Lee.

As is often the case with GRCs, attention is firmly fixed on the anchor minister—and this time, the spotlight on Desmond Lee is both a blessing and a burden.

Though Lee has held Cabinet positions for the past eight years and was once floated as a potential successor to PM Lee Hsien Loong, he now faces the daunting task of leading a team in a constituency once closely fought—and tainted by scandal.

The West Coast GRC was the PAP’s narrowest win in 2020, with the Progress Singapore Party (PSP) capturing 48.32% of the vote. That was under the watch of former Minister S Iswaran, who has since been convicted for accepting undeclared gifts from billionaire Ong Beng Seng while in office.

Lee, who had no involvement in the scandal, now finds himself defending not just the GRC, but the reputation of a party still reeling from one of its most high-profile falls from grace.

Is this the moment?

For the PSP, this could be the golden opportunity. If not now, then when?

The fall of a PAP stalwart, the redrawn boundaries, and Desmond Lee’s tough inheritance may finally tip the scales in their favour. A win here would cement PSP’s place as Singapore’s third elected party in Parliament.

But the opposition party has faced its own setbacks.

Tan Cheng Bock and Leong Mun Wai recently accused the government of fearmongering over Trump’s tariffs, only to backpedal after a global market plunge sparked real economic concern. The misstep may have damaged their credibility just as the election season heats up.

Meanwhile, Leong—now re-elected as PSP secretary-general—continues to draw controversy. His resignation last year followed a POFMA order over false claims about a couple allegedly denied government aid.

Even Tan himself has made serious misjudgments as well. His public endorsement of Tan Kin Lian during the 2023 Presidential Election was widely criticised, and even the party distanced itself from him.

Will the damage from the Iswaran scandal outweigh the baggage of PSP’s recent stumbles?

Or will voters reward the PAP for acting swiftly—after all, the Minister was investigated, tried and sentenced swiftly, and is currently behind bars.

Crises happen in every system. What matters is how they’re handled.

With all these moving parts, West Coast-Jurong West—even with its new borders—could again be the nation’s most hotly contested battleground.

Check out our GE2025 microsite for the latest election-related news, find out which constituency you belong to, and who’s running where on the election battleground here.

Also Read: GE2025: What happens if you don’t vote on Polling Day in Singapore?

Featured Image Credit: Petir.sg/ Designed by Vulcan Post

This M’sian serial chef-preneur’s latest F&B venture is a Bornean-inspired BBQ joint in PJ

Located in Ara Damansara, ASAP By LYE is a new spot for barbecue lovers. 

Not your typical barbecue spot, though, ASAP is all about focusing on Bornean flavours. 

Behind the business is Kenny Lye, founder and restaurateur. Interestingly, Kenny himself doesn’t hail from Borneo. In fact, he grew up in PJ, where he was able to try a variety of good food and cuisine. 

“I loved the experience of trying something new when it came to food,” he reminisced. “It was what drove me toward taking up culinary arts in college and has shaped me to what I am today, a restaurateur.”

Choosing F&B as his path in life, Kenny started his career in a central kitchen of a franchised company after graduation. 

Here, he learnt how a well-oiled kitchen works. “I didn’t just learn about the food, but also the processes involved in keeping the central kitchen efficient,” he explained. 

After four years in the central kitchen, he moved up to operations, spending the next eight years in the night entertainment industry. 

Kenny worked hard, gathering knowledge and skills about the industry before finally deciding to start his own business.

A serial restaurateur 

Before ASAP though, Kenny’s first business had been LYE. 

“LYE started because I’ve always wanted a family brand with a neighbourly feel to it,” Kenny explained. “LYE became just that when we began operating.” 

It was a place that was different from others most people were accustomed to, Kenny said. It had great ambience, was cosy, relaxed, with great food and beverages, but most importantly, it was affordable. 

He then went on to start two other joints—RYU TTDI, and DARK TTDI. Each boasts a slightly different vibe. 

“I wanted to push myself to create something different,” Kenny said. 

Drawing inspiration from the Japanese yakitori cuisine, Kenny opted for a Japanese feel, complete with an accessible and neighbourly ambience. 

“RYU was also a personal ambition of mine,” the restaurateur expressed. “I had set a goal for myself to design a neighbourhood restaurant with a different theme and ambience, every year.”

Meanwhile, DARK is a fine dining spot—yet again a totally different concept. With a focus on exclusivity, it caters to a more high-end clientele. 

“Coming up with the concept for DARK and the execution of it was very challenging,” Kenny said. “It pushed me to rethink the way I did as with LYE or RYU.” 

Bornean culture, but in PJ 

As for ASAP, Kenny expressed that BBQ and smoked cuisine was always in the pipeline. 

He expressed, “There’s something about the authenticity of cooking using wood fire to smoke or grill. It’s the low and slow cooking technique that creates rich, yet true flavours, with the juiciest outcomes.” 

It was something he had been wanting to do for a long time, and it finally culminated in ASAP By LYE. 

Compared to other barbecue spots, ASAP stands out by using flavours originating from Sarawak, leveraging traditional Sarawakian cooking methods and flavours to bring to life the dishes served. 

“It is a different culinary experience on its own,” Kenny said. “The traditional Sarawakian theme flows through the restaurant as well, setting the ambience and ‘feel’ of the dining experience.”

Those seeking something different compared to the usual “Western style” BBQ and smoked cuisine might just find what they want here. 

Kenny’s personal favourite dish is the Smoked Saba Mackerel, which features an intense smokey flavour paired with the natural fats within the fish. “Pairing it with our homemade sauces just elevates the flavours to a whole other level,” he added. 

Beyond the food, Kenny also hopes to bring the energy of Borneo’s famed Rainforest Festival, bringing over the music and culture to ASAP. 

Looking at the bigger picture, he hopes to get the desirable MICHELIN Bib Gourmand that recognises establishments that serve good food at moderate prices.

Leveraging years of experience

Over the years, Kenny has amassed tonnes of experience as well as struggles. 

He looks back at the MCO period as the most challenging time of his career. At the time, no business could operate for dine-in customers. 

“That to a F&B outlet was a death sentence,” he said. “We needed to adapt our strategies so we could stay afloat and ride through the storm.” 

But that journey and perseverance has brought Kenny where he is today. Of course, it wasn’t just sheer grit that he has to thank, but rather lots of planning.

“If you have the passion, don’t just dive right into the business,” he advised. “It takes a lot of planning and getting the direction you want to go, right. Things don’t always work out, and you can expect challenges along the way. But that doesn’t mean you should give up right away. Start by having a plan with a long-term goal.” 

He added, “Pre-plan five years ahead so you can reach your desired goal.”

While having ambitions is good, he also believes that budding entrepreneurs shouldn’t set expectations too high. Rather, they should be kept reasonable and within reach.

“If you’re very confident with the concept, and have the plans and strategies in detail, go for it,” he said. “Don’t wait! If you wait, someone else might beat you to it, and you would be full of regret.”

Four brands in, this mindset seems to have worked out for Kenny.

• Learn more about ASAP By LYE here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about F&B businesses here.

Also Read: Why Brisbane & Gold Coast should be M’sian travellers’ top Aussie destinations in 2025

Featured Image Credit: ASAP By LYE

Not your usual boardgame cafe, this TTDI space specialises in tabletop RPGs like D&D

Chances are, you’ve played board games before, be it Monopoly or good old Snakes and Ladders. 

The world of tabletop roleplay games (TTRPGs), though, is perhaps more rich and diverse than you might think. 

Here Be Dragons, a self-described one-stop-game-shop for all things tabletop in TTDI, sheds light on that. 

Behind the business is founder Sharifah Hanna, who finished her Media Production studies in New York.  

Growing up, she had heard of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), a popular TTRPG, but it wasn’t until she studied overseas that she learnt more about it. 

Ironically, though, it was when she got back to Malaysia during the peak of the COVID pandemic era that she was able to play it herself. 

During this time, Sharifah was unemployed, and she thought to herself, “There’s no way some nerds didn’t figure out how to play this online while social distancing.”

She was right, and quickly found a Discord server that held games online. “I fell head first into it, and I realised how much I wish I’d discovered it as a child, especially as a neurodivergent child with ADHD and autism that wouldn’t be diagnosed until much later in my life.”

Here be a start 

But after getting a new job, Sharifah stepped away from playing D&D online for many months. When a coworker had caught the virus, though, they took on a work-from-home model, giving Sharifah the time to jump into a game again. 

“The welcome I got from people who didn’t even know my real name, who just welcomed me because they enjoyed playing this collaborative game of storytelling with me, made me realise how much the sense of community these hobbies could build meant to me,” she expressed. 

Sharifah began thinking how wonderful it would be if a place like Here Be Dragons existed. But at that time, she didn’t think of it as a business she could start—just one that would be cool if someone else did. 

But then, she started to think, “Maybe if my career didn’t work out in a year… I’d consider it as a real option.”

Two weeks later, she quit her job and began figuring out where to start on the endeavour that is Here Be Dragons. 

Here be the land of TTRPGs 

For the uninitiated, TTRPGs stands for tabletop role playing games. They’re essentially collaborative, improvised storytelling games, where players sit around a table, each playing a role. 

These games involve a set of rules and usually dice rolls to determine the outcome of actions. 

There’s usually someone known as the Game Master who runs the game and acts as the overall background storyteller. The players are the main characters in the story.

The Game Master will introduce a basic starting point in the story, and the players will describe their reactions, and it’s a back-and-forth experience. 

There’s no winning or losing in the traditional sense, since it’s more about telling a story and seeing how things end.

“It can get absolutely hilarious, with people laughing over ridiculous decisions and scenarios, or it can break your heart when something terrible happens to the characters,” Sharifah said about the campaigns. 

In other words, TTRPGs are a form of storytelling, allowing players to explore nuances of real-life concepts and express themselves in a safe space. This is what Here Be Dragons seeks to offer. 

Here Be Dragons offers both pre-written and pre-scheduled sessions with experienced professional Game Masters. The majority of their sessions are beginner-friendly, coming with resources such as pre-made character sheets and dice. 

The team is also always more than willing to give a crash course of any rules to the games they run. 

Giving people the opportunity to try new things, they also do their best to provide a variety of TTRPGs, not just popular ones such as Dungeons and Dragons. 

The space serves light snacks and drinks, but otherwise has a limited F&B menu as it wasn’t something they prioritised, choosing to focus on designing products and services. 

Prices for Here Be Dragons’ session range around RM25 per session. Bookings must be made in advance for specific campaigns on their website. Meanwhile, the private rooms cost RM140 for the first two hours which houses a maximum of eight people.

Here be a growing community

Here Be Dragons is only two years old now, but it has already seen the TTRPG scene grow. This is in part due to their presence, as well as other industry stalwarts such as Nightshade Tavern, KakiTabletop, Femme & Fate, and MYLARP. 

More than helping people discover hobbies, the team prides itself on seeing people discover community. 

“While I know it’s so easy to use words like community, safe spaces, and finding your people as buzzwords in branding nowadays, I don’t think it diminishes the importance of any of those things,” Sharifah said. 

The founder believes that the more genuine community you have, the harder it is to feel isolated and become a target of exploitation. When you belong in communities, you see a world bigger than yourself, recognising other people who have lives aside from yours.

“Hobbies like this may start out as escapism, but I’ve also seen how they lead to real life changes through genuine human connection, because these are hobbies that generally require human interaction in a very specific way,” she added. 

Here be profits? 

Here Be Dragons offers multiple table rental packages, charging for time in their space, where you get access to the library of 150+ games, along with recommendations and game instructions from the staff. 

Many customers also use the space to bring their own games, run TTRPGs, or even just get some work done. “As long as you’re respecting our customer code of conduct and paying the rental fees, we’re pretty flexible with how you use the space.”

They also have a private room with access to resources such as minis, terrain pieces, and a bluetooth speaker. For an additional fee, there’s also a screen built into the table itself that customers can use to display maps or atmospheric images. 

Then there’s the dedicated craft workshop space, where Here Be Dragons hosts local artists leading workshops on everything from miniature painting to terrain building. 

From here onwards

Two years in, Sharifah shared that the business isn’t as badly in the red as they were last year. 

One big challenge they face is visibility. As Sharifah said, it doesn’t matter how good a service is if people didn’t know it exists. 

“Of course, the added factor of being built on such a niche interest didn’t help,” the founder said. “But in a way, that’s also what makes it so precious to people.”

As they’re still getting their footing right now, Sharifah aims to steadily keep building up their space before working on grander plans such as…. Malaysia’s first official renaissance faire?

“I think the start of the business was itself enough of a huge jump into the dark (which so far, admittedly, had paid off),” Sharifah commented. 

“But I don’t feel the need to bite off more than we can chew now that we exist and are on track to keep going. One step at a time, but we’re excited for the future.”

• Learn more about Here Be Dragons here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: This global real estate firm is expanding to KL to help local agents achieve their ambitions

Featured Image Credit: Here Be Dragons