When Qistina Izahan, the co-founder of social enterprise PasarKraf by The Quack Movement, reached out, she was hesitant. The KL slang felt unfamiliar, and working with an outsider seemed risky.
But curiosity won. Soon, her handmade bags, ties and pouches – crafted with Sarawakian batik – were being showcased by PasarKraf at a university event in Shah Alam. For the first time, her work found eager buyers beyond her hometown.
“What really touched me was how much Salasiah has changed,” said Qistina, 21. “At first, she was hesitant and unsure. Now, she reaches out to me!
“She has a stable income with us, which is life-changing since she’s the sole provider for her family.”
For Qistina, a final-year international business student at Universiti Tenaga Nasional, creating opportunities for low-income communities is deeply personal.
At 19, a car accident left her hospitalised for a month, her face scarred, her confidence shattered. She felt lost, until a friend’s words struck a chord: “You’re still alive. Why not do what you’ve always wanted?” That question sparked a fire in her.
Determined to reclaim her purpose, she applied to McKinsey & Company’s Youth Leadership Academy, where she built her first social enterprise – The Quack Movement – in 2023 with a group of strangers.
What started as a small project selling duck-themed merchandise made by low-income communities soon evolved into something bigger. But as her older partners left for full-time jobs, Qistina found herself running The Quack Movement alone.
That’s when she joined Sunway iLabs’ LaunchX startup accelerator programme. “I wanted to take the idea further – to support more artists and add a tech solution,” she explained.
After winning LaunchX and securing RM23,000, PasarKraf by The Quack Movement was born in 2023. More than just an e-commerce platform, it nurtures artisans to ensure their crafts thrive.
Unlike mainstream sites, PasarKraf actively seeks hidden talents – those with immense skill but little visibility. The team scours rural markets and Facebook groups, and builds direct relationships with creators like Salasiah to bring their work into the spotlight.
To support these artisans, PasarKraf operates on three key pillars: a fair online marketplace with minimal commission cuts; a booking system for art workshops like batik painting and wood carving; and a ticketing hub for niche performances, giving traditional arts the audience they deserve.
One major challenge, however, is the digital divide. Many artisans – especially older ones – aren’t tech-savvy. Some don’t even use WhatsApp, let alone online marketplaces.
So, PasarKraf meets them where they are, visiting markets, sitting with them, and guiding them through the process.
For many artisans, the idea of selling online once seemed impossible. But as their products have found eager customers, they have gained not just income but a newfound confidence in their craft, proving their work has real value beyond their communities.
This transformation is exactly why PasarKraf exists. Yet, for Qistina, it’s about more than business – it’s about preserving Malaysian culture.
“Art is often overlooked, but it connects us,” she said. “As the world becomes more individualistic, we need platforms like this to keep our cultural identity alive.”
Fulfilling this vision, of course, comes with its own challenges. Running PasarKraf while still in university isn’t easy, and her co-founder, Afnan, juggles a full-time job.
Still, their passion fuels them, and Qistina believes there’s no better time to take the leap. “The best time to start a business was yesterday. The next best time is now,” she said.
“If you’re a student, use the grants and resources available to you. People want to help you while you’re still learning. Once you graduate, life only gets busier, so just start.”
Find out more about PasarKraf by The Quack Movement here, and follow them on Instagram.