Legacy Building: Hjh Maimunah’s second-gen owner on the importance of keeping family traditions alive

A natural step

Mastura “never really thought about” taking over the business, as she felt it was something she was always destined to do. After graduating from university, she began helping her mum in the restaurant full-time.

One of the main reasons taking over felt so “natural” for Mastura was her pride in being part of the business. “I wanted to bring the business to greater heights,” she explains. “I believed that I could scale the business as my parents have trained me with the necessary skills to do so,”

In addition to cashiering and waiting tables at 12, she learnt to take orders, pack food, handle the business’s finances and more. Since joining, she has helped to improve various processes such as sourcing ingredients and searching for suppliers that suit the restaurant’s needs. When asked to take over the business in 2018, she was also entrusted with making key decisions alongside her parents.

Embracing family

Working alongside family inevitably has its ups and downs. Mastura describes it as a “rollercoaster” with happy and stressful moments, especially during busy periods. She reveals that disagreements tend to arise when it comes to expansion plans. However, believing family bonds to be stronger than challenges faced, she explains how these conflicts are overcome through “proper planning and trust in each other”. She adds: “It’s important to give support and compromise on certain decisions made.”

For Mastura, memorable experiences far outweigh the difficult ones. She fondly recalls working together as a family on the eve of Hari Raya. “It’s always a joyful experience. We work through the night, cooking to fulfil all the Hari Raya orders. The next day, we sit down to share the same meal we prepared. My heart feels full every year on Hari Raya,” she reflects.

Looking ahead

With Mastura and her sisters at the helm, Hjh Maimunah is constantly evolving, catering to the ever-changing consumer habits. She notes that today’s consumers are increasingly seeking “fast, convenient meals” that can fit seamlessly into their hectic lifestyles. Recognising this shift, the team was inspired to introduce set meals, providing customers with a quick and satisfying meal that doesn’t compromise on flavour.

In addition, they expanded their offerings to include a range of products such as sauces, pastes and frozen products that customers can easily use at home to recreate authentic dishes, bringing the essence of Hjh Maimunah into their kitchens.

In such a highly competitive market, the sisters recognise the challenges ahead. Nonetheless, Mastura emphasises the brand’s commitment to adapting to diverse needs. “We will continue monitoring consumer trends and meet their ever-changing demands,” she enthuses.

Mastura remains motivated to keep Hjh Maimunah as the go-to restaurant for Malay and Indonesian cuisine. She puts it best: “[These days,] most people don’t say ‘nasi padang’ any more. Instead, our customers say, ‘Do you want to eat Hjh Maimunah?’”

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