Jelutong Market RM1 Nasi Lemak Couple

Jelutong Market RM1 Nasi Lemak Couple is an elderly couple selling nasi lemak from a pushcart at the Jelutong Market. They were selling their nasi lemak for just RM1 per packet. Quah Ah Hin, 65, had just recovered enough from a stroke to continue the trade, assisted by his wife Ong Ah Sim, 63. Initially they were hauling a folding table along Lebuhraya Jelutong to the Jelutong Market.

Their plight was highlighted by The Star, which brought it to the attention of the 1Malaysia Hawkers and Petty Traders Foundation. Moved by their plight, the foundation purchased a RM3000 pushcart for the couple.

Today (Saturday, 2 April 2016), we came across this nasi lemak couple as we were leaving the Jelutong Market after our usualy morning marketing. They had stopped their cart by the roadside on Lebuhraya Jelutong, as they were already swamped by buyers. Curious over the nasi lemak, we moved closer and saw that it was flying out of the stall before the couple could even reach the market proper. So my wife and I decided to buy four packets. By the time we got to our turn, there was only packets with boiled egg and ikan bilis left. The packets with chicken were already sold out.

Driving away from the market, my wife commented that she can smell the aroma of the nasi lemak in its packet. I was driving, so I did not fully notice the aroma, so she brought the packet closer to me, and yes, I have to say that the couple's nasi lemak is aromatic.

Here's how our four packs of nasi lemak look like:

Jelutong Market Couple RM1 Nasi Lemak (2 April 2016)


Jelutong Market Couple RM1 Nasi Lemak (2 April 2016)


So how do I find the RM1 nasi lemak?

Surprisingly not bad for something costing only RM1 (I do not know how long the old couple will be able to maintain that price, but I sure hope it continues for a while). For RM1 you get a quarter of an egg with some ikan bilis. The gravy is quite spicy. My wife said that there were just two or three ikan bilis in the packet. I didn't count, but I still have one packet left to eat, so when I do that afterwards, I will count the number of ikan bilis in there. Nevertheless the portion of rice was quite substantial. We had bought two packets each, but we only managed to eat one packet, leaving the other packet to be taken afterwards.

It did not occur to me to take a photo of the RM1 Nasi Lemak Couple, but I will do that the next time I see them at the Jelutong Market.

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