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Satay seller 'Abang Kataks' turns heads in frog costume

Satay seller 'Abang Kataks' turns heads in frog costume

PASIR GUDANG: To stand out, Muhammad Nur Aiman Baharuddin sells satay wearing a frog costume.
The 27-year-old from Taman Scientex said he wears the costume to attract customers.
The father of two is assisted by two workers.
They sell chicken, beef, and lamb satay daily, except on Mondays.
"I used to work as a cook at a restaurant, and later as a factory operator. At one point, I was juggling two jobs—working at the factory during the day and selling satay at night.
"But after the Movement Control Order (MCO), I decided to sell satay full-time as the business had become stable, and also following my wife's suggestion.
"Because I wanted to stand out and be creative, I chose to wear a costume and picked a frog. I also use the name 'Abang Kataks' on TikTok, which was a nickname I had during school," he told Harian Metro.
Aiman said he doesn't wear the costume every day or for the entire working hours.
Customer reception has been positive so far, and he enjoys entertaining his customers, especially children.
"At the moment, I operate from 6.30pm to 10pm, with the help of workers who grill the satay in front of my house.
"At the same time, another worker and I go around on motorcycles, grilling and serving satay at our customers' homes," he said.
Muhammad Nur Aiman added that as long as he can, he will continue selling satay as his main source of income.

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A new generation of fashion lovers are just getting to know Steve Madden
A new generation of fashion lovers are just getting to know Steve Madden

The Star

time8 hours ago

  • The Star

A new generation of fashion lovers are just getting to know Steve Madden

Steve Madden, the eponymous founder of the famous shoe brand – and a man with a somewhat complicated history – said he had never seen anything quite like this in his 35-year career. He did an interview with the Cutting Room Floor fashion podcast that was posted online recently, and the reaction on social media (and beyond) has been overwhelmingly positive. 'Usually people are like 'what do you want from a con man?'' he said in a phone interview. But this time, 'people were calling me and they're like, 'Did you read the comments?'' he said. 'Some people want me to run for president.' He referred to the controversies and struggles he has been a part of over the years before pausing and adding that 'it's nice to be appreciated'. Political office isn't in his future, but later in the phone interview he said that he would consider running 'for the president of the board in my building' after all this positive attention. In the podcast interview, Madden and the host, Recho Omondi, touched on a range of topics, including his past white-collar crimes and the current government. Clips of the interview have been viewed by millions of users on TikTok, and Omondi's Patreon, which is where the podcast is posted, received 'thousands' of new subscribers, she wrote in a recent post. Read more: Style reigns supreme: Catherine, Princess of Wales, proves she's still got it In the days after the interview was released, stock in the Steve Madden brand rallied to its highest point in a month, and many TikTok users noted they were going to buy his shoes. In an emailed statement, the company said Google searches for 'Steve Madden' were up more than 60% and website visits from organic search had increased by 10%. The Steve Madden brand offers popular footwear styles at more affordable prices. 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'It's like calling the Beatles a knockoff band because they would take a little bit from Motown and a little bit from Elvis,' he said in the podcast interview. On the day the podcast was released, Madden sued Adidas for its 'efforts to monopolise' stripes after the sneaker brand complained that two of Madden's sneaker designs, with two stripes instead of three, infringed its trademark on the three stripes. Most of the reaction to the podcast interview on TikTok and Reddit praised Madden's candor and his plain way of speaking. Others found it refreshing for a business leader to speak so bluntly about the current administration's policies. For a younger generation, the interview also served as a moment of discovery, with many learning for the first time about Madden – his background, his struggles – or just putting a face to a name they have seen or heard over the years, Quint said. 'Suddenly it's like, Oh, that's Steve the shoe guy?' he said. 'There's sort of a surprise factor in all of it – the uncovering of who he is and thinking of that brand in a new light.' Madden admitted that perhaps a younger generation was meeting him for the first time. 'I'm kind of like an author, an author that you know very well but you don't know what he looks like,' he said. 'Then they get to see me – they've been wearing my shoes forever but I'm a real guy. I'm a real guy who goes to the grocery store and curses too much, you know, and tries to be a good dad.' In fact, his story – already extensively covered in the media, in his autobiography and in The Wolf Of Wall Street – is seemingly so fresh for a younger generation that many TikTok users suggested Netflix should produce a documentary about him. Read more: How today's best-dressed men aren't just wearing style – they're shaping it During the podcast interview he was shown a pair of Alaia shoes that his brand had replicated. His reaction was to ask, referring to his customers, 'Do you think some of my girls even know who Alaia is?' That line struck many who viewed the interview as endearing. 'From day one, I have loved Steve Madden and now I love him even more,' Gabriella Masseran said in a TikTok post, reacting to the interview. 'He's for the girls,' she added, before walking her followers through her personal collection of Madden's shoes. 'It felt really genuine – he wasn't snooty,' said Victoria Thompson, 31, a government worker and content creator in Augusta, Georgia. 'I felt like that could have been my uncle. And he called us his girls. I'm like, you know what? Let me go support him.' After seeing the clips on TikTok over the weekend, she drove to the nearest Dillard's department store and bought a pair of Steve Madden slippers. They look like a type produced by Hermes, but are far less expensive. – ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.

Dream turned reality with Shell LiveWire
Dream turned reality with Shell LiveWire

Daily Express

time13 hours ago

  • Daily Express

Dream turned reality with Shell LiveWire

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Backyard beginnings to business What began as a small carpentry venture in the backyard with the simple goal of starting a YouTube channel has grown into Brutti, a company that prioritises great workmanship, smart design and sustainability. Lukman, who was born and raised in Kota Kinabalu and has a background in automotive engineering and his wife Siti Faznur, who is also from Kota Kinabalu with a Bachelor's Degree in Tourism Management, attribute their success to the transformative power of Shell LiveWire's support system. From the start, their goal has been to create pieces that are both visually pleasing and extremely functional, effortlessly integrating form and function with responsibly sourced wood. During the second Movement Control Order (MCO), their cleaning services business was hampered by restrictions. Faced with uncertainty, they made the courageous decision to enter an entirely new field with no prior experience. 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'Designed to support startups and early-stage ventures, it provides an ecosystem rich with resources that are often hard to access in the early phases of building a business,' she added. Entrepreneurs are connected to industry experts and experienced professionals who may provide essential advice. Whether it is refining business models, assessing market dynamics or managing hurdles, having access to experienced mentors can be truly transforming. The platform opens doors to networking locally and internationally. By joining the Shell LiveWire community, young entrepreneurs connect with like-minded individuals, potential partners and collaborators who can help expand their reach and impact. In today's interconnected world, Shell LiveWire supports the vision of global scaling by promoting innovative businesses on international stages, helping them gain visibility and credibility in new markets. This long-term commitment ensures sustainable growth and continued support well beyond the initial competition phase. Shell LiveWire Malaysia operates across Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Peninsular Malaysia, ensuring nationwide coverage and equal opportunities for entrepreneurs regardless of their location. Five winners from each state receive seed grants of RM10,000, while five national winners compete for an additional RM30,000. The programme's structure includes three years of mentorship and business guidance, opportunities for supply chain absorption and retailer partnerships, plus access to a network of successful alumni and ongoing peer support. The success of Brutti and countless other Shell LiveWire alumni reflects Shell Malaysia's commitment to nurturing local talent and driving sustainable economic growth. By focusing on environmental sustainability, social impact and business innovation, Shell LiveWire is not just creating successful businesses, it is building a foundation for Malaysia's entrepreneurial future. Shell LiveWire Malaysia continues to seek passionate entrepreneurs who are ready to transform their innovative ideas into thriving businesses. Join the ranks of successful Shell LiveWire alumni who are making meaningful impacts in their industries and communities. Your story of transformation and success could be the next inspiration for Malaysia's entrepreneurial ecosystem. Registration for Shell LiveWire Sabah closes on June 23. Do not let this opportunity pass by. Register today at and begin your journey toward entrepreneurial success. Live your dream with Shell LiveWire Malaysia! * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

#SHOWBIZ: Actress Saidah Kamarudin cancels wedding, claims ex has only RM500 in bank account
#SHOWBIZ: Actress Saidah Kamarudin cancels wedding, claims ex has only RM500 in bank account

New Straits Times

timea day ago

  • New Straits Times

#SHOWBIZ: Actress Saidah Kamarudin cancels wedding, claims ex has only RM500 in bank account

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian actress Saidah Kamarudin has revealed the reasons behind her decision to call off her engagement to fellow actor Muhammad Muntazar Ghufran in October last year. The former couple became engaged in May 2024, following a year of dating. In a recent interview, Saidah, 29, cited financial instability as a primary factor in her decision to end the wedding plans. She claimed that Muntazar, 22, had only RM500 in his bank account. "You should be looking for a job or continuing your studies," she lamented. The actress further alleged that following their breakup, Muntazar hacked into her TikTok account and posted fabricated comments under her name in an attempt to damage her reputation. It's understood that Saidah filed a police report at the Setia Alam police station in Shah Alam, Selangor, on May 31. "When Muntazar and I were still together, we shared the passwords to our social media accounts. After we broke up, I changed my passwords and removed all access." Meanwhile, Muntazar has refuted Saidah's claims that he was unable to afford their wedding. The actor explained that he told her he had additional funds invested in unit trusts. "I told Saidah about it, but she told me that's investment savings and not actual money. If it's true that I have only RM500 in savings, how is it possible for me to pay close to RM1,000 monthly for my car while also giving my family around RM1,000?" he argued.

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