PBB Senadin Women members gain kek lapis-making knowledge in visit to Siti Payung

MIRI (Dec 12): The Women’s section of the Senadin branch of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) held an educational visit to Siti Payung, one of Miri’s leading ‘kek lapis’ (Sarawak traditional layer cake) producers recently.

The programme was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen entrepreneurial knowledge and also to promote Sarawak’s cultural heritage products.

The 30-member delegation was led by Sarimah Buang, the Women’s chief of PBB Senadin, and they comprised representatives of the party’s 11 sub-branches.

Siti Payung owner Mohammad Hafidz Rohani was present to welcome the visitors, who gained knowledge about the operations of the business since its establishment in 2009.

Among Siti Payung’s key milestones are the halal, MeSTI, GMP and HACCP certifications obtained for its factory, as well as its expanded market reach with exports to countries such as the USA and Qatar.

Sarimah said: “This visit was more than just a casual outing; it’s an important platform to inspire women to venture into entrepreneurship and to further strengthen their skills.

“Traditional Sarawak products such as ‘kek lapis’ and ‘kelupis’ should continue to be promoted as symbols of local identity and pride and thus, women today play a vital role in supporting the community’s economic growth.

“Through programmes like this, women can gain knowledge that could lead to new business opportunities, additional income and improved quality of life for their families.”

The visitors were also given hands-on experience in producing ‘kek lapis’ at Siti Payung.

In his brief remarks, Mohammad Hafidz expressed appreciation for the visit and expressed hope to see more community-based development initiatives in the future.

“This initiative reflects ongoing efforts in creating more opportunities for local women and also supporting the growth of homegrown industries in Miri, and Sarawak as a whole,” he said.