‘Nasi 4 Jejaka’ sahur meal: A symbol of brotherhood

KUALA LUMPUR - The desire to offer something different to those seeking a delicious and hot pre-dawn meal (sahur) has driven four friends to set up the ‘Nasi 4 Jejaka’ stall throughout this Ramadan.

Operating in Setiawangsa from midnight until 5am, the stall serves a combination of white rice, spiced fried chicken, boiled egg, cucumber, sambal belacan, and either curry or coconut milk gravy. It has quickly become a popular spot for Muslims in the area to get their sahur meal.

One of the entrepreneurs, Anas Basir A Bakar, 32, said the idea stemmed from their personal experiences of struggling to find high-quality and affordable sahur meals.

"From the survey we conducted in our residential area (Setiawangsa), it’s hard to find truly delicious and hot meals. If there are any, perhaps only one or two shops offer them.

"When you get a complete meal with hot spiced chicken, sambal, vegetables and curry, it naturally stimulates your appetite for sahur. So, there’s no excuse not to wake up for it," he told Bernama recently.

Anas Basir, who works full-time as an accountant, said the business is a childhood dream shared with his three friends-graphic designer Muhd Fahmi Mohd Fauzi, 26; and Muhd Amirul Naim Abd Sattar, 27, and Saiful Adwa Ahmad Rudin, 28, both branch managers at a security company.

"The four of us grew up together in Setiawangsa and have been friends for a long time, knowing each other very well. Since childhood, we always dreamed of having a business together.

"Besides, we all know how to cook, but we never had the opportunity to run a business. Now that we’re working and have our own savings, we managed to pool our funds, and Alhamdulillah, our dream has finally become a reality this year," he said.

Since all four are still single, they have assigned specific tasks and responsibilities to ensure the business does not interfere with their full-time jobs during the day.

"Balancing a day job and a nighttime business is no easy task, but we manage this challenge through a rotating shift system and organised task distribution," he said, adding that this approach also ensures they get enough rest.

Meanwhile, Amirul expressed hope that ‘Nasi 4 Jejaka’ would continue to receive overwhelming support beyond Ramadan.

"Of course, we aspire to expand our business... perhaps by adding more menu items or even launching a food truck in the future. Everything depends on the response we get throughout this Ramadan.

"‘Nasi 4 Jejaka’ holds great meaning for us as it symbolises our friendship and entrepreneurial spirit while adding value to the community," he said.

Amirul also shared an inspiring message for young people looking to follow in their footsteps, encouraging them not to let failure dampen their spirits in achieving their dreams.

"If you want to achieve something big, you have to start small. That way, you’ll be more motivated to chase your dreams. And never be too quick to admit defeat," he said. - BERNAMA