{
  "id": 19732677,
  "title": "From pandemic setbacks to business growth",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/from-pandemic-setbacks-to-business-growth",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-13T00:00:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1576518/pandemic-setbacks-business-growth"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Pandemic-related job loss prompted Abiramee Rangasamy to start a home-based ice cream venture; today, her business has doubled sales. Shreetaran Vijayan, a fitness enthusiast, opened a gym in Melaka that thrived until pandemic restrictions forced closure; he secured financing to rebuild and now operates three locations with 10 employees. Muakilan Ragunathan revived his father's automotive parts business at home, using a family inheritance to expand and now exports components internationally. These entrepreneurs faced unique challenges – Abiramee needed machinery, Shreetaran needed operating capital, and Muakilan needed inventory support – all met through Malaysian government support. The Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Ministry allocated RM223 million this year, disbursing over RM150 million to benefit more than 6,000 Indian entrepreneurs.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Losing her job during the Covid-19 pandemic prompted Abiramee Rangasamy to start making ice cream from home. Today, her business has doubled its annual sales.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}