By Razif Rosli
TAPAH, June 11 (Bernama) -- In the heart of Kampung Batu 10, Jalan Pahang, a group of 15 Semai women is transforming their lives and their community through natural beauty products made from everyday ingredients like oats, turmeric, and coffee.
Known as The Women of Orang Asli Tapah, the group comprises housewives, single mothers, and women with disabilities, aged between 24 and 53.
What began with a soap-making workshop under the Perak Children’s Aspiration Centre (PASAK) in June 2022 has blossomed into a social enterprise driven by passion and purpose.
Through their cooperative, Koperasi Wanita Orang Asli Semai Tapah Berhad (KOWAST), the women now produce and sell a variety of personal care items including facial masks, lip balms, body scrubs, face oils, and perfumes.
Their creations are sold at local carnivals and community exhibitions, offering a natural alternative to mainstream beauty products.
Chairperson Kristina Bah Uda told Bernama the group’s growth accelerated after receiving a RM100,000 grant under the Sejahtera MADANI Community (SejaTi MADANI) Programme in Oct 2024.
“The grant was a game-changer. It helped us meet key cosmetic industry standards, including licencing and product registration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO),” she said.
Among their standout products are the Ubtan Soap Bar—made from fennel seeds, chickpea powder, oats and sandalwood—Blushy Soap Bar, herbal charcoal soap, avocado soap and their popular Coffee Soap Bar.
The funding also covered laboratory testing at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) and equipment purchases such as microwave ovens and digital scales to boost their manual production capacity.
“National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) cosmetic approval alone cost us RM18,000, UKM testing RM10,000, and MyIPO registration about RM6,000. All of it was possible through SejaTi MADANI,” Kristina said.
Looking ahead, The Women of Orang Asli Tapah is eyeing national and even international markets, encouraged by strong support from PASAK, the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), and the Cooperative Commission of Malaysia (SKM).
Though still in the early stages of branding and promotion, the impact is already being felt.
“Most of us were housewives without a fixed income. Now, some are earning RM300 to RM500 monthly from product sales,” Kristina shared.
The SejaTi MADANI programme is part of the larger MADANI Economic Framework aimed at improving community well-being and tackling hardcore poverty.
Grants ranging from RM50,000 to RM100,000 are awarded to eligible communities in five key sectors: agriculture and food, tailoring and handicrafts, herbal and wellness, tourism and hospitality, as well as green and recycling activities.
-- BERNAMA
