NEGERI SEMBILAN, MALAYSIA — “Can someone edit this photo of my shop so that it looks like it has many customers?”
This was what a mak cik — or auntie in the Malay language, wrote alongside a photo of the empty tables and chairs in front of her stall posted in a Facebook group, hoping someone could help her with the task and dream of having tons of customers queuing for her food.
But what the mak cik got in return, was not just edited photos with imaginary customers seated in front of her stall but actual customers from groups and groups of bikers patronising her shop in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan.
Earlier last month, Mdm Saliza Ita, a “gulai kawah”(local curry dish cooked with cauldron) stall owner, sought help on Facebook community group ‘Edit Apa Hari Ini?’ (‘What to Edit Today?’ in Malay lanugage), to edit a photo of her shop so as to make it look busy in hope that it might attract more customers to visit her shop.
She asked:” I’ve always wanted many customers like those in other stores that have gone viral, even though that is just a dream. I hope that dream will become a reality.”
She confessed that she had felt like giving up but she continued on with the business as because this is the only livelihood she knows.
At times, she earns a mere RM47 after a whole day of work.
“But I still feel grateful that there are still customers willing to dine at our shop, ” she wrote.
FB Group Members Answering The Call
Soon after Mdm Saliza made her call for help, members from the Facebook community group showered her with their sympathy, comforting and praying for the mak cik in hope that her livelihood will be better, moving forward.
Some photoshop enthusiasts did just what Mdm Saliza asked, uploading edited photos of her stall, with a crowd of customers sitting and lining up in front of the stall.
Nazreen’s version also had foreign diners featured in his edited photo.
Another group member, Jack Armani edited a long queue for the stall, and wrote: “Sorry sis, I edited with using handphone only, may Allah SWT bless you with sustenance.”
As for the photo edited by Zhura Zainal, the stall is shown bursting with customers. She also wrote in the captions, listing the stall’s name and its location, hoping to invite more people to visit Mdm Saliza’s stall.
Groups Of Bikers Visited Mak Cik’s Shop
Since the group members started to edit Mdm Saliza’s photo, the post unexpectedly went viral on social media, garnering attention from the Malaysian community and was visited by a large group of bikers on 6 November.
Mdm Saliza happily shared on her shop’s Facebook page: “These bikers are among the earliest groups that came to visit our shop. I took the opportunity to take some photos as a memory, thank you everyone for willing to come by.”
In a subsequent post on 8 November, the page shared a post by a netizen named Daniel Bakar, showing another group with over 20 bikers.
Mak Cik Express Gratitude To Netizens
Mdm Saliza’s business has since gone on track after her post in the community group went viral, with over 18,000 reactions, 2,800 netizens comments and 1900 shares.
On 10 November, Mdm Saliza posted a post to express her sincere gratitude to all those who have helped by sharing her shop location and giving comments and reviews.
“While not many edited my shop’s photo, many of them prayed for my business. As how you prayed for me I will bless you all, my friends. Our family feel touched by your comments until many people notice our shop.”
She also encourages other entrepreneurs not to give up and keep working hard, “Whether Allah’s sustenance come fast or slow, up to HIS hands. “
