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PETALING JAYA, November 27 – Former Malaysian driver Mohammed Naeem Md Nassir knew he could not remain inactive when he was fired from his job in April this year.
Shah Alam’s Mohammed Naeem was a pilot for Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAS) from 2014 to 2018 years before landing a job at Oman Air in 2018.
“When I received the dismissal letter from Oman Air this year due to the pandemic, I knew that it would take a while for the aviation industry to recover from its losses.
“I started working as a freelancer in drone videography, but that was not sustainable because it is a niche market.
“A newcomer like me would find it difficult to land a job in the drone business compared to those with connections and experiences.”
He said MalayMail that while he and his wife were at home during the confinement, they also craved hamburgers like the ones they ate in Oman.
“Something about Omani burgers hit the spot. And there was a famous burger joint that served broken burgers, so my wife and I researched recipes and experimented with these burgers.
And so began Mohammed Naeem’s adventure in the burger business and he founded his own burger stand known as Smashed located in Shah Alam which has been in operation for the past two months.
“The burgers that I normally enjoy are expensive, so I wanted to offer an affordable option with the same quality.”
The 30-year-old, who is helped by his wife on the job, said he had watched many tutorials online and practiced making hamburgers in his kitchen every night for a few weeks.
“It took me about a month to practice my cooking and grilling skills, and I’m glad my wife hasn’t gotten bored of my burgers until today.”
Working in Oman, Mohammed Naeem was fortunate to earn a living where he could increase his savings, and that money was used as capital to establish Smashed.
“In fact, I was fortunate to have met the owner of the Burger Bros located in TTDI when he introduced me to many vendors who gave me the best price for my groceries.”
Mohammed Naeem confessed that the transition from a pilot to hamburger sales was drastic.
“I was so used to being in the comfort of a cockpit, flipping switches and flying planes to something new that I was constantly next to a hot grill.
“However, the two jobs are similar in terms of ensuring that the process is smooth, safe and efficient.”
The 30-year-old said that when he was a pilot, he was used to being served food, while now he is responsible for serving food to his customers.
“It is an experience that fills me with humility and I enjoy it very much, especially when I see the happy faces of my clients, having my wife by my side and having the support of friends and family,” he said.
The vandalized stall is inside a restaurant called Nasi Kandar Zubair Bistro in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam.
