In 2010, she was badly injured in a road accident when the tires of a trailer that had come loose crashed into her car, sending her vehicle spinning before coming to a stop.
Zaidah, who was running a sewing and food business then, was on her way to fetch her son from kindergarten – never expecting the trip would alter her life forever.
Suffering severe injuries to both legs, Zaidah, a mother of five, underwent multiple surgeries and spent the next seven years in a wheelchair. While she has since regained mobility, her right leg is now shorter than her left, and she cannot walk for long periods.
“It was a very difficult time,” Zaidah told FMT Lifestyle. Unable to work, her husband became the family’s sole breadwinner, while her two eldest children, then aged 17 and 16, stepped up to care for their younger siblings – and their mother.
However, Zaidah refused to let her disability define her. As her condition improved, she returned to her businesses, although she later closed her food venture.
Then, in 2014, she was dealt another blow. A fire razed her shop to the ground.
“I felt like I wanted to die – that’s the only way I can describe it. I had no income, and everything had been reduced to ashes. My losses were about RM300,000,” recalled the 50-year-old, who lives in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.
For many, it would have been the end of the road. For Zaidah, it wasn’t. She rebuilt her sewing business, drawing on her savings to get back on her feet.
“That’s why it’s important for us to save in case we need to start over,” said Zaidah. It was her children, she added, who gave her the will to live.
Today, her sewing business, Zai Collections, is thriving. She tailors both women and men’s wear, and offers alteration services.
Over time, she introduced handcrafted items such as tanjak, the traditional Malay headgear for men, bags and dolls. The dolls are inspired by Hang Nadim and Mahsuri, legendary figures in local folklore.
She also creates miniature tanjak as gifts or home decor pieces. She even turns these into keychains. Her handicrafts are made with local batik and songket, in honour of Malaysian heritage.
Today, Zaidah has also revived her food business. While managing both ventures keep her busy, it also brings her a sense of fulfilment.
Beyond that, she teaches sewing to persons with disabilities and individuals from the B40 community, including single mothers, equipping them with skills to earn a living. She also delivers motivational talks to students interested in entrepreneurship.
Her efforts have earned her due recognition, including the “Special Award for Entrepreneur with Disabilities” at last year’s national-level International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebration.
In 2023, she bagged first prize in “SAY LEAD”, a competition for entrepreneurs with disabilities.
Her entrepreneurship was further enriched when she joined the Khadijah Artisans Mentoring Programme (KAMP).
A collaboration between Khadijah International Waqf (L) Foundation and Persatuan Pembangunan Artisans, the programme supports craftswomen from low-income backgrounds by providing them guidance to succeed, and assistance in expanding the distribution channels for their products.
Having graduated from the programme, Zaidah said she values the guidance she has received. “I’ve learnt a lot especially about marketing and setting the right prices for my products.”
Looking ahead, Zaidah hopes to spend more time teaching. “I believe everything I have comes from God. So, I must do my best to leave behind something good and share my knowledge with others,” she concluded.
Indeed, Zaidah’s journey stands as a reminder that even after the hardest setbacks, it is possible to begin again – and to emerge stronger, with something meaningful to give back to the community.
To purchase Zaidah’s handicrafts, contact her at 013-643 2093.
Read more about the Khadijah Artisans Mentoring Programme and its artisans here.