DR M AMAZED AT FACTORY’S SLICK OP
Fruit juice factory owner says PM’s visit motivates him to expand business
PRIME Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday spent about 30 minutes visiting a fruit juice factory owned by Nanas Merbok Sdn Bhd, at the Kedah Regional Development Authority’s Small-and-Medium Industries Centre here.
He arrived there about 10am in
a car with himself at the wheel, accompanied by Government Advisory Council chairman Tun Daim Zainuddin. Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub joined them on the visit.
Dr Mahathir saw up close the process of making pineapple juice and was given a briefing by the management.
The factory’s owner, Abu Hassan Man, said Dr Mahathir was amazed at his capability as a Malay to open such a factory, which was running like a “welloiled machine”.
“I was told that Dr Mahathir said he did not believe that this is a Malay-owned factory.
“When Daim brought him here, Dr Mahathir admitted that Malays have the capability (to set up this business),” he said.
Abu Hassan said Dr Mahathir’s visit had motivated him to expand his business and that he was looking at a bigger market.
“Dr Mahathir said if a person wanted to manufacture goods, he must market them overseas and go for big cities.
“My products are marketed in the northern region (of the peninsula).”
He said his factory had been in operation for two years and processed fruits to be made into juices, purees, cordials, sauces and dried fruits.
“My factory buys from locals who grow pineapples, durians, jackfruits and mangoes.”