MELAKA: Growing up in a poor family, R. Gananathan (pic) did not get many chances to savour satay.

       When he turned 18, he started earning a living as a caddie at a golf course in Alor Gajah.

       Through the years, he survived on daily wages until he got a job as a production operator in a factory at the age of 28 with a monthly salary of RM700.

       Even then, Gananathan, who attended vocational school, could only afford to treat himself to satay on a very infrequent basis.

       “It wasn’t a smooth journey for me as earning money for my family was the top priority from an early age,” he said.

       His fortune changed when he decided to venture into manpower supply about seven years ago.

       “I started my company with little capital. But I was lucky as there was a need for a huge number of workers in factories then,” he said.

       Eventually, Gananathan started offering his service to employers outside of Melaka.

       These days, the factory operator-turned-businessman has not forgotten what it meant to be poor.

       Gananathan, who is now the chief executive officer of his own business, distributed satay to an orphanage and an old folks’ home yesterday to mark his company’s fourth year anniversary.

       “I wouldn’t have achieved what I have if not for those who helped me during my early days,” he said.

       Gananathan, 42, also spoke about the experience that he gained while working in factories.

       “Such experience became useful when I ventured into my own business,” he said.

       He recalled feeling very shy to approach human resources managers of some companies as he was not fluent in English.

       “But gradually, I improved myself by watching more English movies as well as picking up the art of communicating through YouTube.”

       Gananathan said he saved enough money to start a manufacturing plant at Bukit Rambai industrial estate here in 2018.

       He decided to start manufacturing industrial packaging bags when he was told that there was a high demand for it.

       “Looking back, I struggled a lot to raise my children with a low salary then, but I have never lost hope,” said the father of two.