SYURGA COOKIES HOMEMADE'S RM10 RAYA COOKIES HELP ASNAF, SINGLE MOTHERS THRIVE

ALOR GAJAH, March 14 (Bernama) -- Driven by a mission to support vendors and delight customers, Syurga Cookies Homemade, founded by Azie Izhar, now offers more than 200 varieties of Raya cookies and chips, all affordably priced at RM10 per container.

Azie, 39, said that the cookies and chips are produced by nearly 10 vendors, including asnaf, single mothers, and close relatives, with fresh batches delivered daily based on demand.

The mother of three, with children aged three to 19, said Syurga Cookies Homemade, operating since 2022 at Jalan Keretapi Lama, Kampung Gangsa, has also built a network of 100 agents across Melaka, Singapore, and Brunei.

"The business started online in 2017 with the goal of helping underprivileged individuals and single mothers sell their homemade Raya cookies, empowering them to become self-reliant instead of depending on external aid.

“Alhamdulillah, in 2022, my husband, Azley Alias, and I decided to convert part of our home into a small shop to showcase and sell all the cookies and chips made by our vendors,” she told reporters when met at Syurga Cookies Homemade.

Azie, who also runs a hamper and gifting business, said Syurga Cookies Homemade operates not only during Ramadan but throughout the year, offering a wide variety of modern and traditional cookies.

She explained that all cookies sold at her shop undergo a strict quality and taste screening process to ensure they meet the highest standards and do not disappoint customers.

“Although each container is priced affordably at RM10 and we only take a RM0.50 commission per pack, my husband and I are very particular about the taste and quality of the cookies our vendors supply,” she said.

She expressed her gratitude for being able to maintain a steady supply of Raya cookies at her shop, ensuring that customers - who sometimes queue for long hours - are never left disappointed.

“It brings my husband and me great joy to see people excitedly purchasing cookies in preparation for Aidilfitri, especially those from the B40 group. Some even buy them as gifts for their loved ones,” she added.

Meanwhile, one of the vendors, Rozaliah Abdullah, 54, from Bertam Jaya, shared that she has been making nestum crunchy for Syurga Cookies Homemade since last year to earn extra income, particularly to cover necessities and preparations for Aidilfitri.

The single mother of six said she supplies cookies to the shop only during Ramadan, as her equipment, including the oven, is not suited for large-scale production.

“Now that we are in the second week of Ramadan, I have supplied nearly 50 containers of Raya cookies. Alhamdulillah, the earnings have been a great help in covering Raya expenses, especially for my daughter, who is currently in Form Four," she said, adding that her five other children have already started their own lives.

For Faszirah Zainal, 29, from Bukit Rambai, she and her mother, Jalilah Annhar, 55, have been supplying cookies such as denderam, popia nestum, popia cheese and popia coklat at the shop since 2017 to supplement their income for Aidilfitri preparations.

“I help my mother sell cookies at the night market while also making Raya cookies as a side business to boost her income. Alhamdulillah, we have a place to showcase our products, and so far, we have sold over 100 containers,” said the youngest of two siblings.

-- BERNAMA