Kuala Abai Entrepreneur Thrives with Government Entrepreneurship Initiatives
7 February 2025
By EVB
KOTA BELUD: Shariffah Juka, 44, from Kuala Abai, Kota Belud, is making significant strides in the local food industry.
As the founder of Mutiara Recipe and the Kaipa brand, she produces a variety of popular food pastes, including Fish Soup Paste, Salted Fish Fried Rice Paste, Sambal Nasi Lemak Paste, and her most renowned creation, Soto Paste.
She currently operates two cafés—Mutiara Kuala Café in Kuala Abai and another in Pekan Nabalu.
Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2016 with the opening of her first café, but the COVID-19 pandemic posed a major setback when dine-in services were restricted. However, this challenge sparked innovation.
“When the pandemic started, many of my regular customers requested my Soto Paste. Since they couldn’t visit the café, I began producing small batches to meet the demand,” she explained.
Initially preserving her paste using a freezing technique, she later improved production methods after networking with fellow paste-making entrepreneurs in late 2022.
This led to the development of commercial packaging, which received an enthusiastic response.
In 2023, she participated in several entrepreneurial courses, including the Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN) Basic Cash Course, the PELADANG Marketing Course, and the MARA Halal Integration Course. These programs significantly enhanced her business knowledge and strategies.
A major milestone came in 2024 when she secured a packaging grant from the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Sabah (MIDE).
This funding enabled her to upgrade product packaging, incorporating nutritional labels, expiry dates, and barcodes, which boosted sales.
“The support from MIDE was invaluable. With professional packaging, my products now appeal to a wider market,” she said.
Today, her food pastes are widely available in local markets, including GUI Supermarket, IKS Mart Tuaran, IKS Lahad Datu, and Was Pemborong Pekan Nabalu, making it easier for customers to enjoy her signature flavors beyond her cafés.
Her Soto Paste has even reached the United Kingdom through funding from the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) and assistance from halalstreet.my, which facilitates product delivery to the UK.
Despite growing demand, she faces challenges due to limited equipment and is currently applying for additional funding to expand production capacity.
“We are constrained by our current equipment. I hope to secure a grant this year to upgrade our machinery and meet increasing demand. With financial support, I’m confident we can take the business to the next level,” she shared.
Shariffah Juka exemplifies entrepreneurial resilience, leveraging government initiatives to enhance her skills, expand market reach, and contribute to the empowerment of Sabahan entrepreneurs.
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