(Source: Karipap Ale-Ale | Facebook)
Imagine starting a business with just RM40 in your pocket and sheer determination in your heart.
That’s the real‑life journey of 49 year old Jasmin Pannoot, a humble street vendor who transformed his karipap hustle into a booming enterprise that now rakes in RM60,000 to RM80,000 every month, and sometimes even reaches RM100,000 during school holidays.
He sells karipap while singing JDT’s song
According to Kosmo, 7 years ago, Jasmin began selling “epok‑epok” – that's how karipap is known in Johor – by walking tirelessly about 10km daily between Dataran Pontian and Laman Diraja Pontian. These weren’t leisurely strolls; imagine carrying a heavy basket of hot pastries under the sun and still finding the energy to serenade potential customers with the Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) football team’s anthem to draw them in.
He even suffered from immobility of both hands
Those early days weren't easy. The strain on his hands grew over time. He suffered immobility in both hands due to carrying heavy curry puffs brackets for hours. That led him to invest in a trolley, offering much‑needed relief, which also helped him boost his sales.
“At first, it was difficult to overcome the feeling of embarrassment as a street vendor, but for the sake of my wife and seven children, I cast all that aside to survive,” he said.
(Source: Karipap Ale-Ale | Facebook)
He is the reason 15 young adults have jobs
With guidance from RISDA (Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority), Jasmin opened a proper shop and began producing between 2,000 and 5,000 karipap a day. His brand “Karipap Ale‑Ale” became a fixture in popular eateries around Pontian such as Tenggek Coffee Restaurant and Kemangi Restaurant.
“The karipap I sell come with a variety of fillings such as potato, egg, sardine, chicken, beef, pineapple, cheese and mee hoon, priced between RM1 and RM5 depending on the size.”
“The frozen karipap is sold at RM8 per pack, depending on the product and filling, with sizes in S, M and L available for direct or online sales.”
“I have also held discussions with entrepreneurs in Singapore to explore the possibility of marketing Karipap Ale-Ale there,” he explained.
(Source: Karipap Ale-Ale | Facebook)
All of this success hasn’t just filled his own pockets, it’s also created employment for about 15 young Malaysians.
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