IGNATIUS STEPHEN MALANJUM

Pasangan remaja direman kes penemuan bayi

Seorang remaja lelaki direman empat hari oleh Mahkamah Majistret di Tawau bagi membantu siasatan kes penemuan bayi perempuan yang ditemui di Kampung Jawa.

Why you’re seeing this: Mentions IGNATIUS STEPHEN MALANJUM

Mak-Online brings homemade favourites to your doorstep

A new platform wants to share this experience with more Malaysians. Calling itself “Mak-Online” – a reference to “mum’s cooking” and an abbreviation for “Made At Kitchen” – the homegrown food delivery platform aims to connect hungry customers with home chefs and home-based food entrepreneurs. “I’m sure we all know someone who makes excellent food. With Mak-Online, they can earn extra income by sharing what they make with others,” co-founder and chief technology officer Sumita Kristin Palanisamy told FMT Lifestyle. “When Covid happened, a lot of us discovered we had a talent for cooking. But we were all stuck in our houses. Now, we can deliver hearty, healthy meals to those who want them.” Mak-Online chairperson Sharifah Suraiya Syed Yusoff, herself a homemaker, said the concept resonates deeply with her personal values. “As someone who cooks at home every day, I understand how important food quality truly is. Home-cooked food is made with care, with the freshest ingredients, and with love – something you simply cannot replicate in mass production.” Founder and chief executive officer Ignatius Lourdsamy likens the service to an online Ramadan bazaar, allowing customers to choose from home chefs specialising in a wide variety of cuisines. Citing figures from the statistics department showing that more than half a million Malaysians were unemployed as of April, he said the platform could help create new income opportunities. He believes that while automation and digitalisation continue to reshape many industries, cooking remains a skill that cannot truly be replaced by AI. Sumita added that anyone is welcome to join Mak-Online, regardless of qualifications or culinary experience, although the initial stages of the platform will focus on those in the Klang Valley. One advantage, she noted, is that it is far more affordable than opening a restaurant or food stall. Aspiring home chefs will go through an onboarding programme after signing up, during which the platform will conduct background checks and register their details. This includes kitchen hygiene inspections and verification of required vaccinations. The platform will also ensure Muslim home cooks meet halal requirements. And like most delivery platforms, Mak-Online will include a review system, allowing customers to rate the sellers whose dishes they have tried. One of its distinguishing features is that customers can place orders from a single vendor for an entire week, rather than ordering meals day by day. The sellers will also have the flexibility to change their menus daily. The company hopes to expand to other parts of Malaysia within six months, and there has been interest in bringing the platform to other countries in the region. Mak-Online is also in discussions with the entrepreneur development and cooperatives ministry to explore financing support for small home cooks, helping them improve their kitchens and upgrade their skills. Ultimately, Ignatius believes this is a good way for anyone to earn a little extra, “and maybe it will encourage us to get to know our neighbours better”, he said. “You never know – you might discover there’s been a wonderful cook living near you all this time.” Mak-Online is slated to be launched by August. Click here for more information, or email [email protected] . Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.