[NON-HALAL]

There are real-life examples of this “third-generation curse” – family businesses that were painstakingly built but eventually reduced to a rubble of debts or even bankruptcy.

But one business in Negeri Sembilan was determined to overcome the odds: Sin Swee Fatt, a fifth-generation family business that sells handmade pau and baked Chinese pastries.

To understand how they survived through the generations, the FMT team visited Titi in Negeri Sembilan’s Jelebu district, where it all started.

Their shop is located on Titi’s main street, and on weekend mornings, there are crowds of people buying their fare.

There are different types of scrumptious pau sold here – char siew, rice wine chicken, black pepper chicken, petai and delectable treats such as cakes, kaya puffs, and Chinese wedding pastries.

Quite simply, one is spoiled for choice.

Perseverance of the pioneers

Speaking to FMT, 70-year-old Yap Min who runs the shop, shared that the business was started by his wife’s great-grandparents in 1935. It was called “Ban Heong Chin” back then.

Sadly, in the 1940s, their shop was destroyed in a fire. So, the couple packed their bags and moved to nearby Kuala Klawang where they worked hard to rebuild the business.

In 1958, they moved back to Titi and renamed their business “Swee Fatt”. Their son and his wife joined them.

Soon a third-generation member of the family opened another shop in Titi, naming it “Sin Swee Fatt”. “Sin” means “new” in Chinese. At the same time, a fourth-generation family member was being taught the treasured recipes.

Speaking to FMT, Oi Chun, 64, Min’s wife, shared that she was only eight years old when she began helping her father run the business.

She soon developed a love for baking and joined her father full-time after completing school. In 1994, she and Min took over the business.

However, because she pushed herself too hard, Oi Chun fell seriously ill. It was clearly time to reassess her life. So, she and her husband moved to Seremban, leaving the business in the care of her cousin.

‘I didn’t want to lose the family business’

After more than a decade however, in June 2019, Oi Chun returned to Titi to restart the business, this time with her eldest son, Wei Seng.

“I didn’t want to lose the family business,” Wei Seng, 42, told FMT, adding that although the hours were long, he was happy.

In May last year, they opened a second outlet in Seremban.

These days, the Titi outlet is only open over weekends and public holidays when there is a larger tourist crowd. All the pau and baked goods are made in Seremban under the watchful eyes of mother and son, and delivered to Titi.

Wei Seng said he is excited about the future and shared that they plan to open an outlet in Kuala Lumpur to be helmed by his younger brother.

Looking at their Seremban outlet with its modern interior, it is amazing how far the business has come since its humble beginnings in Titi generations ago.

Yet, it also highlights the fact that to survive the changing tides of time, one must always renew themselves – making the word “Sin” in its name, rather apt.

Kedai Biskut Sin Swee Fatt [NON-HALAL]
2, Ground Floor, Jalan KS1
Kepayang Sentral
Taman Bukit Kepayang
70200 Seremban
Negeri Sembilan

Business hours:
9.00am-4.00pm (closed on Monday and Tuesday)
Contact: 019-2591288

Kedai Biskut Sin Swee Fatt [NON-HALAL]
142, Jalan Besar
71650 Titi
Negeri Sembilan

Business hours:
8.30am-4.00pm (Open on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays)

Contact: 019-2983111