KUALA LUMPUR, May 5, 2026 – Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi met 89-year-old traditional dodol producer Chik Ah (Bakiah Omar) during a visit to an entrepreneurs’ exhibition yesterday, praising her resilience and the growing success of her homegrown business.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Deputy Prime Minister, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, shared that he was guided to the FELCRA stall where Chik Ah operates. “The dodol maker who once wrote a letter to me. I finally got to meet Chik Ah. Chik Ah is getting more famous now,” he wrote.
He added: “I pray that Chik Ah continues to be blessed with good health and that this traditional business continues to achieve success. Ameen.”
Chik Ah, a single mother from Perak, has become a symbol of rural entrepreneurship after her story went viral in late April following coverage by Bernama. Widowed in 1979, she single-handedly raised 10 children by producing dodol for over 50 years. With support from a FELCRA grant, she expanded her traditional confectionery business and is now one of the most active participants in the agency’s entrepreneur programme.
Photographs from the meeting show Dr Zahid warmly interacting with Chik Ah, who was seated in a wheelchair, as they examined samples of her signature dodol and certificates of achievement displayed at the FELCRA booth.
FELCRA has been actively supporting rural micro-entrepreneurs like Chik Ah through grants, training, and market access to preserve traditional Malay delicacies while generating sustainable income for villagers.
Netizens who replied to Dr Zahid’s post expressed admiration, describing Chik Ah’s story as “inspiring” and “a shining example of perseverance.”
The encounter highlights the government’s ongoing commitment to empowering rural communities and recognising unsung heroes who keep Malaysia’s culinary heritage alive.
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