Bonda Normi - The Founder of Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa Kampung Baru

Surprised Visit by Bonda Normi, the Founder of NLA Kampung Baru


The night view of the outlet, attracting those who want space and comfort when dining with family or friends.

1 Muharram 1431, the Hijriah new year brings surprise to our Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa Melaka outlet. Upon finishing our new year staff operational strategic breifing, we were surprised by the presence of the founder of NLA establishment, Bonda Normi.


Puan Khasnoor, Bonda Normi and Abang Jakaria (Jack Sparow - Facebook name)

She sat down at one of the front counter tables awaiting for her well known business partner and family friend, Abang Jakaria who had to park the car at Mahkota Parade's newly completed car park. Rain was pouring down this afternoon and it was perfect that her presence at our outlet was a real honor especially on the new year's day.

Her story is available on line if you google her name, but listening to her directly face to face, we were very much delighted by her motherly approach and her passions for cooking. Preferred to be addressed as Bonda, she iterated that in 1973, when she started her nasi lemak business, it was really difficult and it took her one year to sell 5 kg's of nasi lemak at 80 sen per serving with one full boiled egg in Kampung Baru, KL.


We never thought that Bonda Normi would do cooking demo to our kitchen staff.

Bonda Normi took up the challenge to cook her finest recipe of fried mee for the crew that evening. Seldom these days one sees her holding the wok and utensils cooking out her famous recipe.

Expert at her best..

She also validated the taste of our chilli gravy (sambal) stock that makes Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa so unique for over 36 years of its historic operations. Today, the original shop in Kampung Baru is still inviting loyal customers as well as new visitors. Her presence that night lasted from 4:00 PM to 11:30 PM, the longest stay of her visit to the outlet.

It's like an inviting aura that customers continued to enter the door for the night.

The customers lined up to make the selection at the counter.

Bonda Normi also gave a few tips for food preparation in the kitchen. Her advices are valuable for the learning and the betterment of the outlet. She was more than happy to show how to roll up her best known "lepat pisang berinti" (stuffed banana cake) she used to sell in Kampung Baru.


Bonda Normi and Abang Jakaria concluded their visit by signing our guess book together.

Bonda Normi and Abang Jakaria worked and won the title Raja Nasi Lemak in 1980's.


Our cheerful staff concluding the night.


It was also the day we introduced Otak-Otak Mersing in addition to satay.

Have you heard this unique tune at NLA Melaka?

Adha and Huzai, The Kookaburra Group, decided to make it big this time, the stage at NLA Melaka was the platform to practice for the waited Melaka Buskers' Month... Here is what they managed to tune up last night. We still do not know what happens with the event which is to be organised by the Dataran Pahlawan Megamall...

Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa Kampung Baru - Melaka Outlet

The Changes for the New Hijriah Year 1431 - NLA Melaka Outlet

On the first day of Awal Muharram, Friday, December 18, 2009, we had the first staff operational strategy briefing, focusing at a few key emphasized areas, mainly operational safety, finished serving quality, customer service and direction setting.

The first key change is the enforcement of the limited front desk counter services period to cater for the male crew of the outlet to fulfill their Friday prayer obligation from 12:45 to 2:30 PM. This schedule will be enforced every Friday at the outlet. Hot meal orders from the kitchen will be suspended during the stated 1hr 45 minutes period but main dishes as served at the front counter will be made available as usual. The time allocated is more than essential given that the closest mosque for the tennants and visitors of the Dataran Pahlawan Megamall is not really a walking distance; as such, it is hoped that the City Hall will take that into consideration in the future infrastructure plan for the city. During major holidays, it is challenging enough to spot a vacant car park and let alone to have to drive to get to the closest mosque at Pulau Melaka.

Operational safety is the expectation that every team member is responsible to look after his or her safety as well as the safety of the others. Operational safety starts within one self which leads to the individual operational actions starting from the simplest task of switching lighting on and off to the crucial kitchen equipment and gas operations and handling. At NLA Melaka outlet, we want everyone to come to work and to go home safely. It is our leading principle that short cuts and unsafe behaviours are not acceptable.

Our job is to ensure that we provide quality finished serving for our customers. All the meals in our menu will be checked before they get to the front counter. Each team member is dedicated to have the ownership for the quality of specific serving meal, including how it tastes. We haved obtained the helps we needed to ensure the originality of nasi lemak Kampung Baru taste at our outlet and the article about that will follow.

Attending to customers' needs is key to our success. With young crew team members from a combination of new university graduates, under graduates, diploma & certificate holders as well as some selected young and enthusiatic talents who are currently trying to learn to do the best job, we ocassionally encounter some challenging experiences. While it is part and parcel of the service industry, our crew team members are encouraged to begin the journey to excellent customer service by learning to build self confidence. A simple greeting with hi or a smile to the customers would make a big difference! We will not have script, forced expression or a standard phrase to say, but we want to be honest, genuine and sincere in our action and interface with our customers. Soon, we will be recognized for our unique quality of our customer service.

Our establishment in Melaka is a start. We would like to ensure that our capacity to serve the Malay culinary choices and needs of the Dataran Pahlawan and the the Herritage Park visitors are met. With 200 seat capacity and large space area, we want to provide the comfort and place to meet all day long. Our menu will continue to be added and from time to time, more Malay dishes will be made available for our custormers and visitors. Come and experience the late night tranquility on top of the Dataran Pahlawan, the kind of space and view one would not have in other bustling cities in the world including in KL. However, in Melaka, our space has not been utilized or "abused" enough to light up the night of Melaka center point!! Yes, we are open until 2:00 AM and we are prepared to be awake until 3:00 AM if our seats are seated!

Satay at Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa Kampung Baru - Melaka Outlet

Fresh satay serving all day at Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa Kampung Baru, Melaka Outlet

Our unique outlet name depicting the primary serving of nasi lemak is not necassarily limited to only nasi lemak. Our combination serving and offer of authentic choices to customers make our outlet attractive to be a family place when it comes to family dinner, lunch or coffee and tea stop.

Our satay on the grill

Our satay serving is currently available only in our Melaka outlet and not yet available at any other NLA outlets in KL. Our satay is barbecued on natural charcoal smoke and flame which leaves the taste and aroma of satay unforgetatble, moist and soft. Served with fresh cucumber pieces mixed with crunchy fresh peeled onions over the home made peanut gravy, you can be assured of its originality and freshness.


Again, NLA Melaka Outlet is bringing all together closer to you, your family and your memorable stay in Melaka.