KUALA LUMPUR – The predicament faced by the overworked Akka Nasi Lemak, who rose to stardom with her array of local dishes, shows that being in the limelight is not always as glamorous as one might presume – as the brightness could instead be blinding.
Although her stall has become a household name, the fame that came with it has taken both a physical and mental toll on Akka, whose real name is Sangeetha.
In a video posted on her business TikTok account, she lamented her inability to handle a slew of customers with her limited resources, which led to her losing weight.
“The smell of plastic, prawns, and chicken is always present. But, I have difficulty eating,” she said with a tear-streaked face in the clip.
“You all may be wondering why I have not eaten and why I am so skinny. Well, this is the reason.
“I cook and clean the same thing every day. I cannot send my car to a shop to be cleaned, so I have to wash it myself every day,” she added.
Sangeetha also requested netizens to eschew negative comments towards her family, as their lives were not suddenly filled with opulence following her recent popularity.
On the contrary, she revealed that her house still has insufficient furniture for a family to live comfortably.
“(On) Saturday and Sunday, you can come to see me. My family will be here as well, helping me.
“You can take me aside for five minutes to talk to me. If not, you can come to my rented house and see my situation.
My four children and I sleep on one bed. I do not want them to have to sleep on the floor. I don’t have a sofa or many things at all.
“Please be understanding and kind, thank you,” she added.
Following the revelation, fans and netizens were not short of encouraging messages for the well-loved business owner.
“She has been doing this (for the) past 13 years peacefully and now she has to explain. All I can say is she doesn’t owe any explanation to anyone,” TikTok user @lina_lemonades commented.
“I do not understand what she is saying, but I can feel her sadness. I pray you are always healthy and filled with blessings,” said Zuna Zareef, as Sangeetha was speaking in Tamil in the video.
Meanwhile, many other netizens urged Sangeetha to take weekly off days so she can recuperate and avoid burning out, while also preventing long queues during last-minute closures.
Sangeetha recently rose to fame after videos of her various dishes went viral online, which led to eager customers nationwide queuing up even before sunrise to get a taste of her cooking.
Subsequently, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli’s special officer Thiban Subbramaniam said that he will ensure Sangeetha has the necessary documents to legalise her business and is signed up for the People’s Income Initiative. – The Vibes, May 20, 2023
