Dodol sales double amid Melaka election campaign

MELAKA: Sales of traditional Melaka dodol have doubled for a local producer, driven by an influx of political party campaign teams and visitors from outside the state during the 16th Melaka election campaign.

Nur Aliyah Zaidi, 28, whose family has been making dodol for four generations, said the presence of campaign teams and visitors from outside the state had contributed to an increase in customers visiting their premises.

She said many visitors from outside Melaka took the opportunity to buy dodol as souvenirs for their families, while others purchased the traditional delicacy for their own consumption.

"Most people who come to Melaka to campaign, whether from within or outside the state, will look for local favourites such as asam pedas and dodol.

"Dodol is among the traditional delicacies they seek out and buy to take home or give to their families," she said when met here today.

Nur Aliyah said visits by political party campaign teams usually increased towards the end of the campaign period, based on her family's experience in previous elections.

Some campaign teams also placed bulk orders to distribute dodol to villagers or serve it during community programmes, she added.

She said the family business was established in 1960 by her great-grandmother, the late Tijah Maakti, and had been passed down through four generations.

After Tijah's death, the business was continued by Nur Aliyah's grandmother, the late Echa Ngah, for about 15 years before her father took over when her grandmother became unwell.

Nur Aliyah said the family continued to use traditional wood-fired cooking methods, which gave the dodol its distinctive aroma and texture compared with machine-made products.

"We sell dodol in several packaging options, including jars containing 36 pieces for RM40, 500g packs for RM13 and smaller packs containing 12 pieces for RM13.

"We operate daily from 9am to 9pm and also receive visits from school students who want to see how this traditional delicacy is made," she said.