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Fast And Reliable, Grandma Fuels Household Cooking In Ipoh Homes

Fast And Reliable, Grandma Fuels Household Cooking In Ipoh Homes

The senior citizen delivers cooking gas cylinders on a bike.

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A 57-year-old grandmother with 16 grandchildren is living proof that age is just a number.

Saparisah Abdul Rahman is able to lift and deliver cooking gas from house to house just by riding a motorcycle.

The heavy work is something that she has been doing for the past 15 years, bringing families and friends together through home-cooked meals.

Saparisah, who lives in Kampung Datuk Ahmad Said Tambahan II in Ipoh, told Bernama she started the business after seeing her younger brother doing it.

My job is not just to sell, but to lift, deliver and install cooking gas cylinders at customers’ homes.

Saparisah Abdul Rahman on keeping the people’s stovetops sizzling.

If There’s A Will, There’s A Way

When she started doing business in 2004, Saparisah did not feel confident lifting gas cylinders which weigh 12 and 14 kilograms.

But over time she got used to it even though she had back pain.

The grandmother, popularly known as Kak Zah, said that by using a motorcycle, she was able to carry three gas cylinders at a time.

By doing so, she effectively fulfils customer orders around Taman Meru to Silibin from her residence which is located about 15 minutes from the city centre.

Although many said it’s a man’s job, she chooses to turn a deaf ear and keep looking ahead to help her family.

In this day and age we can’t be choosy with a job, what matters is it’s halal and we are passionate in doing it.

Saparisah Abdul Rahman on ignoring her naysayers.

Finding Fortitude

She used to work as a pot maker at a factory in Jalan Kuala Kangsar, but after the factory closed she felt bored and wanted to earn a living to help her husband.

The mother of six said that she chose to do the cooking gas cylinder business because she could enjoy a daily salary.

One day I can sell 30 to 40 barrels of gas, at most 50 barrels. I enjoy getting cash every day to use as working capital. If I work in a factory, I have to wait a month to get money.

Saparisah Abdul Rahman on getting a steady income for her family.

On the challenges faced in the business, Saparisah said one of the saddest was when her storage store was often broken into and many gas cylinders barrels were stolen.

One cylinder of cooking gas is worth RM128.

She said maybe for other people the value is not much but for a small trader like her it is expensive and she has to bear the loss.

Saparisah also thanked Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia for helping her to grow the business.


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