AIDILFITRI: HOUSEWIFE EARNS INCOME SELLING HOMEMADE 'KETUPAT PALAS'

PADANG BESAR, March 29 (Bernama) -- With 15 years of experience in making ketupat palas (glutinous rice dumplings in triangular-shaped pouches), a housewife from Kampung Penghulu Jaafar, Beseri, has turned her skills into a lucrative source of income during festive seasons.

Nor Azliza Bidin, 42, said that every time Aidilfitri approaches, she is occupied with preparing customers’ orders. For this year’s celebrations, she received over 150 kg of ketupat palas orders.

“The ketupat recipe was passed down from my mother, who had been selling ketupat for the past 25 years. I am keeping her legacy alive.

“I will make sure that the ketupat is prepared just as my mother did to preserve its rich, authentic flavour for customers to enjoy,” she told Bernama.

Nor Azliza said she also makes ketupat jagung, ketupat hitam, ketupat kacang, and ketupat serunding, as well as frozen ketupat, priced between RM26 and RM30 per kg.

“Alhamdulillah, I am assisted by two workers, who are close relatives, as my ketupat palas orders come in throughout the year, not just during festive seasons. I also receive orders from customers outside the state, including Johor and Kuala Lumpur,” she said.

Nor Azliza said she promotes her ketupat on social media, adding that during festive seasons, her regular customers usually order more than 25 kg of ketupat each.

A loyal customer of Nor Azliza’s ketupat palas for the past five years, who wished to be known only as Wan Shafinas, 37, said that the rich, creamy taste of the ketupat reminds her of the ones that her grandmother used to make.

-- BERNAMA