1997: SECRET RECIPE

From humble beginnings in a Petaling Jaya neighborhood to becoming a household name across Southeast Asia, Secret Recipe is one of Malaysia’s most successful homegrown F&B stories.

Here is a breakdown of its history and growth:

The Humble Beginnings (1997)

• Founder: Secret Recipe was founded in 1997 by Datuk Steven Sim (who, interestingly, was a hairdresser before entering the F&B world).
• First Outlet: The very first cafe opened in SS2, Petaling Jaya.
• The Team: It started as a small family operation with just four staff members, including Sim and his three nephews who were qualified bakers.
• The Concept: At the time, Malaysia lacked "casual lifestyle dining." Most places were either traditional coffee shops or fine dining. Secret Recipe filled the gap by offering a space where people could enjoy premium cakes and fusion food in a comfortable, modern setting.

The Big Break (1998–2000)

• Award Winning: The brand gained massive popularity after winning the Best Cheesecake award at the Kuala Lumpur Cake Competition in 1998 for its Marble Cheesecake.
• Franchising: After testing the business model for three years, Sim began franchising to friends in 2000 and eventually opened it to the public in 2001.

Rapid Expansion & Halal Certification

• Halal Status: In 2004, Secret Recipe officially obtained Halal certification from JAKIM. This was a pivotal move that allowed the brand to become a staple for all Malaysians and paved the way for expansion into other Muslim-majority countries.
• Going Global: The brand expanded quickly into Singapore (1999), Indonesia (2003), Thailand (2004), and China (2007). Today, it has a presence in over 10 countries, including the Maldives and Bangladesh.

Key Milestones

Year	Milestone
1997	First outlet opened in SS2, Petaling Jaya.
1998	Won "Best Cheesecake" award; business boomed.
2004	Received official Halal certification from JAKIM.
2014	China’s Fosun International invested RM210 million, becoming a major shareholder.
2016	Launched the Hokkaido Baked Cheese Tart brand, which became a viral success.
2023	Celebrated the opening of its 350th outlet in Malaysia at 1 Utama.

Fun Facts

• The Name: Datuk Steven Sim reportedly chose the name "Secret Recipe" after it came to him in a dream.
• Beyond Cakes: While famous for cakes, they are equally known for "fusion" dishes like their Laksa, Tom Yum, and Chicken Cordon Bleu, designed to cater to the local Malaysian palate.
• Market Leader: As of early 2026, the brand remains the largest cafe chain in Malaysia, with plans to surpass 400 outlets by the end of the year.

Google Gemini AI

2/2/2026: 2.58 p.m

MIMALAND: A MALAYSIAN NOSTALGIC MEMORY

Ah, Mimaland. Just hearing the name evokes a wave of bittersweet nostalgia for anyone who grew up in Malaysia between the 70s and early 90s.

It wasn't just a theme park; it was Southeast Asia’s first "Fantasy Island," a surreal blend of prehistoric giants and tropical water slides tucked away in the rainforests of Gombak.

The Rise of a Legend

Opened in 1971, Mimaland (an abbreviation for Malaysia In Miniature Land) was revolutionary. Before the glitz of modern parks, we had:

• The Prehistoric Kingdom: Life-sized dinosaur statues that stood guard among the trees. They were slightly terrifying, definitely uncanny, and the backdrop of a thousand family photos.
• The Giant Slide: At the time, it was touted as the largest in Southeast Asia.
• The Lake: A sprawling body of water for boating and fishing that gave the park its serene, "lost world" vibe.

Why It Still Lingers in Our Memory

There is something uniquely haunting about Mimaland’s legacy. After a series of unfortunate events—including a tragic accident and a major landslide in the early 90s—the park closed its gates for good in 1994.

Since then, it has transitioned from a family destination to an urban legend. Nature has slowly reclaimed the concrete dinosaurs, turning the site into a "Forbidden City" for urban explorers and photographers looking for that perfect eerie, post-apocalyptic aesthetic.

Mimaland vs. Modern Parks

Feature	Mimaland (The 70s/80s)	Modern Theme Parks
Vibe	"Jurassic Park" meets Malaysian jungle	High-tech, polished, and air-conditioned
Main Attraction	Static Dinosaurs & giant slides	VR Coasters & IP-branded lands
Experience	Raw, adventurous, slightly mysterious	Curated, safe, and commercial
Current Status	A memory (and a lot of moss)	Thriving tourist hubs

It’s rare for a defunct park to hold such a grip on a nation's collective memory. For many, Mimaland represents a simpler era of Malaysian tourism—before everything became hyper-digital. It was a place where the jungle felt a little bit more magical (and perhaps a little bit more dangerous).

URBAN LEGENDS

When a place as joyful as Mimaland is swallowed by the jungle, the vacuum left behind is almost always filled by ghosts. Because it was abandoned so abruptly, it has become a cornerstone of Malaysian urban legend.

The stories range from classic folklore to "true" accounts from those who dared to trespass. Here are the most persistent legends:

1. The "Orang Bunian" Gateway

Many locals believe that Mimaland was built on a portal to the world of the Orang Bunian (supernatural "hidden people" in Malay folklore).

• The Legend: Explorers have claimed to hear the sounds of a bustling crowd, laughter, and carnival music echoing through the trees, only to find complete silence and decay when they reach the source.
• The Warning: It is said that if you stay too long or show disrespect, the Bunian might "invite" you to stay, leading to you getting lost in the forest for days—only to feel like minutes have passed.

2. The Lady in White

A staple of Malaysian hauntings, the Pontianak or a "Lady in White" is frequently reported near the old motel ruins and the prehistoric park.

• The Sighting: Urban explorers often report seeing a pale woman standing near the mossy T-Rex or peering out from the windows of the decaying chalets.
• The "Hysteria" Incidents: During the filming of the 2020 horror movie Miimaland, several crew members reportedly suffered from unexplained bouts of hysteria (known locally as kena rasuk), which many blamed on the "resident" spirits being disturbed.

3. The Cursed "Super Splash" Slide

Because the park’s closure was triggered by a tragic death on the giant slide in 1993, the water park area is considered the "dark heart" of the site.

• The Legend: Some claim that the slide itself is cursed, and that on rainy nights, you can still hear the sound of rushing water and a final, distant splash—even though the pumps have been dead for 30 years.

4. The Guardian Wildlife

While some legends are supernatural, others are grounded in the very real danger of the Gombak jungle:

• The "Guardian" Tiger: There have been persistent rumors of a black panther or even a tiger that roams the 300-acre grounds. Whether it's a spiritual protector or just a wild animal reclaiming its territory, it has served as a very effective deterrent for many would-be trespassers.

A Note on the "Vibe": Exploring Mimaland isn't just about ghosts; it's the post-apocalyptic aesthetic. Seeing a concrete Triceratops covered in vines creates a "Jurassic Park" nightmare feel that feeds the imagination.

Google Gemini AI

24 January 2026: 10.41 p.m