Century-old Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory’s famous banana cakes, which are baked in a coal-fired oven, are popular with the locals and Singaporeans.
He lamented that sales had dropped by 50% since the start of the MCO in March last year, but the business was being sustained by domestic demand. “Singaporeans make up more than half of our customers, but they cannot come here as the border between Malaysia and Singapore is still closed, ” he said. He hoped the current MCO in Johor from Jan 13 to 26 would not be extended as businesses, including the bakery, would suffer further.
The 30-year-old daughter of bakery proprietor Salahuddin Shamsul, said most of the bakery’s customers were regulars and workers from offices in downtown Johor Baru.