Write an article about With Mak Rusmah Cookies, Nur Farah continues her grandma’s legacy .Organize the content with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6), Retain any existing tags from 31-year-old Nur Farah is the granddaughter the late Rusmah Makum, founder of Mak Rusmah Cookies. (Bernama pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: The enduring success of Mak Rusmah Cookies, a business founded in 1985 and originally based in Kampung Baru here, can be attributed to its late founder, Rusmah Makum, and her irresistible festive cookies and traditional treats.
The business began with kuih bangkit, a traditional recipe learnt by the late Rusmah during a course she attended in Keramat in the early 1980s. Today, Mak Rusmah Cookies produces a wide selection of both modern and traditional treats.
“My late grandmother was always generous in sharing her knowledge and recipes. In fact, many entrepreneurs who sell baked goods in Kampung Baru today are former employees of Mak Rusmah Cookies,” Nur Farah, 31, told Bernama.
Rusmah, who died last year at age 85 from kidney complications, left behind a legacy carried forward by her granddaughter, who quit her hotel job in 2022 to focus on the business full-time. Nur Farah is now determined to bring Mak Rusmah Cookies to the international stage.
Although she was not yet born when her grandmother started the business, Nur Farah grew up hearing stories of its early days.
“My grandmother started on a small scale at home using three small electric ovens and helped by two workers. Initially, she only took orders during festive seasons, but later the business operated year-round selling traditional cookies, growing to the point that she was able to hire 20 workers.
“Grandma would start making festive cookies three months in advance. One month before the festive season, she would focus solely on kuih bangkit santan because its preparation is complex and requires precision. She had to cook the kaya and fry the wheat flour,” Nur Farah shared.
At the height of the business, her grandmother opened a branch in Meru, Klang, assisted by her sons and daughter. Sadly, the passing of all three children led to the Meru branch being closed.
According to Nur Farah, her grandmother continued working up until her final days.
Despite the rising cost of ingredients, Nur Farah keeps prices reasonable to ensure customers are able to enjoy a wide variety of cookies, especially during festive seasons. (Bernama pic)
She said her late grandmother had placed strong emphasis on quality and quantity: key factors in building and maintaining a loyal customer base.
“Grandma always reminded us to fill up the jars fully – there shouldn’t be space for the cookies to move around. If not, she would ask me or the workers to refill the jars!”
Today, the business offers 22 varieties of cookies, including semperit, mazola, pineapple tarts, almond London, makmur, and suji Brunei.
And while most businesses have raised their prices in response to the rising cost of raw materials, Mak Rusmah Cookies has maintained its original pricing, ranging from RM15-RM27 per jar, depending on the size. For comparison, market prices range from RM35-RM40 per jar.
Nur Farah said she intentionally keeps prices reasonable to ensure customers are not burdened and can still enjoy a variety of cookies, especially during festive seasons.
“I want them to continue enjoying my grandmother’s treats without feeling the pinch. Although costs have increased, I do my best to manage them. My priority is our loyal customers,” she stressed.
This year, Mak Rusmah Cookies prepared 9,000 jars of festive cookies with the help of 15 workers. Nur Farah said the highest recorded sales peaked at 25,000 jars between 2011 and 2016.
Asked about the secret to Mak Rusmah Cookies’ appeal, Nur Farah said she grew up observing how her grandmother would warmly interact with every customer.
“Grandma remembered everyone who ever came to the shop. During her lifetime, she would sit in the chair in front of the house, treating each customer like a child or a friend. Her smile never faded. God willing, I will continue her legacy,” she said.
Learn more about Mak Rusmah Cookies on Instagram.
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