Ali, dubbed the coconut man.
ALI’s coconut stall is situated at the corner of the Saberkas Complex in Miri and people are happy to buy from him.
He not only sells coconuts but also cuts the fruits up for customers and chats with them under the tree as they savour the soft tender coconut flesh and the refreshing water.
Sometimes, three or four people would sit down for a chat — or just one man might drive by and order a fruit directly from the driver’s seat!
Dubbed the coconut man, Ali has been selling fresh coconuts for some years now. He built up his stall from a small wooden shack to a fairly reasonable kiosk with a storeroom, reinforced by wire mesh and grilles, and an open space with a stove for frying fritters.
He has a section for coconut shakes, a new product. There is a little banner here – an old one by the looks of it. But he is not worried about it.
Just then, a woman customer came up to him and asked for coconut oil.
“I’m sorry I don’t have the traditional coconut oil for sale. The kampung womenfolk used to make their own coconut oil but now we find the process too tedious. I won’t consider it at all.
“I know it’s good for the hair and skin, and even for curing some ailments.
“In fact, people are starting to use coconut oil for cooking again,” he replied.
Stools made of coconut stumps for customers to sit on.
Few stalls left
In the past, there were several stalls in Miri selling grated coconuts as there was a big demand for them. Today, only a few are left — with one at Tamu Muhibbah.
Ali told thesundaypost there was even a stall selling coconut milk or santan near the Central Market.
Friendly and never short of advice and information for people who asked him questions, Ali loves making the coconut shakes he advertises. It is something that is selling well.
According to him, many Mirians have learnt how to make this drink known as Luak Coconut Shake and Bekenu Coconut Shake.
He said he could call his own coconut shakes by other names but had not thought about it yet.
He added that the coconut shakes are very popular during Ramadan.
Another thing Mirians love is coconut ice cream but Ali is not into it yet as he wants to concentrate on selling fresh young coconuts.
“I’m glad young people are becoming very innovative and have come up with many different kinds of ice cream flavours like coconut pandan and jagung coconut, to name a couple.
“These products could make Miri a popular place. For example, when Kota Kinabalu started selling ice cream potong, the whole of Sabah and even Sarawak, became such fans. Everyone coming back from KK would bring several crates of ice cream potong.”
Short supply
Meanwhile, according to Mohamad, a hawker at the local tamu, Miri is often in short supply of coconuts.
Some days, housewives may not be able to buy even 1kg of grated coconuts due to strong demand and short supply.
Fresh coconuts are snapped up by most of the restaurants. Hotels in the Resort City also try to put fresh coconut drinks on their menus.
Ahmad Ibrahim from Brunei who shopped at Pasar Tani, Miri, said he would be lucky if he could order fresh young coconuts at the local restaurants.
“Most of us come to Miri to enjoy fresh coconut drinks, ice cream, nice kek lapis Sarawak and good Malay food.
“My family and I come every three or four weeks when we can drive down together. It’s a good family outing. We usually enjoy fresh young coconut water the most.
“Sometimes, we drive up to Bungai Beach for a good sunset walk, then a little further up for some rojak. It’s really nice I can go to Ali to buy some coconuts home,” he added.
A special scraper to extract coconut flesh.
Handy man
Ali is a man of quite a few trades — small-time coconut seller, grass cutter and small kampung businessman, who started out with his mother, selling nipah palms, coconut fronds, fresh coconuts, copra and just about anything from their little garden at Sungai Dalam, Miri.
About 30 years ago, mother and son came to Miri from Mukah to eke out a living.
“It was quite a difficult life but we managed to establish ourselves in a small way. I was very determined to do my own business … be my own boss.
“I observe how the Chinese do business in the open air market, how they open their stalls very early in the morning. Then I told myself I have to start early like them — I must never open my stall at 10am. By then, the customers have already gone home. That is the first lesson I learned as a businessman,” Ali recalled.
Over the years, he has been doing a lot of jobs to supplement his income. He has been hired to chop down trees, cut grass and do odd jobs, at the same time, maintaining his small coconut stall.
He revealed thieves had broken into his stall to steal coconuts “but I rose again the next day when a fresh lot of fruits arrived”.
Ali has learnt that a strategic position is good for business. Many of his customers are from Brunei, who stop by his stall before returning home.
“Now, the Brunei currency is big. I get even more Bruneians to buying from my stall,” he added.
No hutang
Ali gets his coconuts from many suppliers who usually bring 30 to 50 fruits per car load. Some come once a week, others may be twice a month. But they always have enough to see Ali through the day.
“I have also learnt I must pay my suppliers cash. No hutang,” he said.
Asked why he has not applied for some government contracts to chop down trees or cut grass, he replied, “I have tried to get such jobs from the council or other contractors but I have to wait.
“I know it’s a good business cutting down old trees which I am skilled at. I can climb up the trees and cut them from the top down without damaging the surrounding trees. Trimming trees is also a good job. People don’t know much about it.”
Ali said it was good to sell another product at his stall like cucur pisang or cucur ubi. A friend is helping him to make and sell the fritters. He also sells groundnuts, soft drinks and packets of sweets.
Ali welcomes customers from all racial backgrounds. He himself is a remarkably friendly person and counts Chinese, Indians, Indonesians and foreigners among his friends.
Ali’s stall is next to Bulatan Park. Customers would pick up fresh coconuts from him after their evening run.
It is not uncommon for vehicles to stop by and pick up 10 fresh coconuts in one go.
He admires the coffee shop operators. Many of them open at 4am. People like their cup of kopi O early in the morning at the market — so he knows timing is important in business.
Ali said his coconut business also depends on timing.
“I go and collect my coconuts as early as possible when they are sweet and fresh,” he said.
It’s cash and carry when you buy coconuts from Ali.