Zulkifli Ainul Mokhsein, 38, and his wife Siti Nuratika Suhaimi, 32, are both hearing and speech impaired. But they are proving that resilience and hard work can help one overcome barriers.
As early as 4am, the couple, who live in a PPR development in Setia Indah here, can be found in their modest kitchen preparing their popular snack. They operate their stall, Epok-Epok OKU, from Monday to Saturday, between 12pm and 6pm in Taman Setia Indah.
Despite having only set up their stall this month, they have already drawn attention – not just for the deliciousness of their curry puffs, but also for their warm and welcoming service.
Zulkifli and Nuratika communicate with customers using simple, intuitive hand gestures: a method also used during this interview with Bernama, alongside messages on a mobile phone.
“Our curry puffs come in a variety of flavours – potato, beef, chicken, sardine, and egg. Alhamdulillah, the response so far has been very encouraging,” said Zulkifli.
Amidst the bustle of running their stall, often accompanied by their four children, the couple accepts orders for special occasions and infak (charitable acts) for those who wish to give alms.
Sadly, behind Zulkifli’s cheerful smile lies a deeper struggle: in 2019, he was diagnosed with stage-four lymphoma, which forced him to give up his previous job as a lorry driver.
He and Nuratika then turned to selling frozen curry puffs, but found that locating customers could be difficult.
With this new epok-epok venture, Zulkifli is hopeful it will help sustain not only his family but also his ageing mother, who has high blood pressure and diabetes.
And even though he and his wife rely on sales income and monthly assistance from Baitulmal and the social welfare department, Zulkifli remains committed to giving back. He recently offered a job at his stall to a friend, who is also hearing and speech impaired and had been struggling to find employment.
On top of managing Epok-Epok OKU, Zulkifli regularly travels to the hospital for chemotherapy and undergoes a PET scan twice a year at the National Cancer Institute.
Despite these challenges, he is grateful for the support he has received, including that his house rental is covered by Baitulmal and Yayasan Bandaraya Johor Bahru, which has helped ease his family’s burden.
To place your orders for curry puffs, contact 013-742 8343 or 019-896 8525.