With ‘Takeaway 2’, Adib leaves media world to empower small businesses

KUCHING: Driven to uplift small businesses in Sarawak, Mohd Adib Othman traded his decade-long career as a broadcast journalist for entrepreneurship, creating a platform that enables small traders to operate without the weight of high overhead costs.

Leveraging a consignment business model, the 44-year-old has launched “Takeaway 2 by Laila’s Kitchen”, which provides vendors with a rent-free physical and online business space in exchange for a monthly commission.

“This model allows small traders to showcase their products without the strain of high operational costs. Our goal is simply to help small businesses grow and expand their market reach,” he told Bernama.

To maintain the quality and safety of products on the platform, Adib’s team rigorously screens the vendors, who offer a wide range of items including frozen food, dried goods, beverages, and desserts.

“I’m essentially building on the business model pioneered by my sister-in-law, Sharifah Laila Wan Mustafa, who launched the first Takeaway outlet in Kampung Gita, Petra Jaya, in August 2023. Recognising the significant potential of this approach, I decided to embrace the opportunity as well,” he added.

Among Sarawak’s media practitioners, Adib is a well-known figure, having served as TV3’s state representative for a decade. Beginning his journalism career in 2009, he honed valuable skills and gained extensive experience, which now serve as an asset in his entrepreneurial journey.

“It wasn’t easy for me to leave the media world, but because of my deep passion for business, I mustered the courage to resign in 2021,” he explained.

According to Aib, he was introduced to the world of entrepreneurship while helping his brother, an electrical contractor, manage their family business.

“As a journalist, I often interacted with various parties and gathered valuable insights. I applied those skills to assist my brother in his contracting business. From there, my interest in business began to grow,” he shared.

He began operations of Takeaway 2 in March, choosing Satok – about 2km from Kuching – as its location thanks to its prominence as one of the city’s key shopping hubs and its accessibility for vendors.

“We are constantly on the lookout for unique, high-quality products to offer our customers. For example, our MD2 pineapple juice is 100% pure with no added sugar. This is part of our ongoing effort to ensure the products we sell meet customer preferences,” he said.

At the same time, Adib said the success of his business is not solely measured by profits but also by the achievements of the vendors who partner with him.

“With solid support and the right platform, I hope Takeaway 2 can have a positive impact on the local economy and boost the competitiveness of small traders in Sarawak,” he concluded.

Learn more about Takeaway 2 by Laila’s Kitchen on Grab and Facebook.

Takeaway 2 by Laila’s Kitchen
Jalan Rubber,
93400 Kuching, Sarawak