SELLER PERSPECTIVES ON THE DEMAND FOR KEK LAPIS SARAWAK: HALAL STATUS AND ITS ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION TO WOMEN IN SARAWAK

Abstract

The Sarawak layer cake, or Kek Lapis Sarawak is a traditional delicacy from Sarawak, Malaysia, known for its layered cake with various taste, colours, and patterns. The objectives include identifying factors influencing the demand for Kek Lapis Sarawak, exploring sellers' opinions on the halal status of their products, and determining the contribution of Kek Lapis Sarawak to the economy of Sarawak women. The study employed quantitative methods, analysing data from a survey questionnaire completed by 27 Kek Lapis Sarawak sellers. The respondents were selected using purposive sampling. Descriptive statistics and independent t-test were used to analyze the data. Cronbach's Alpha for the three objectives are 0.834, 0.924, and 0.983 respectively. The findings of the study indicated that both shop-based and home-based sellers share similar perspectives on the importance of taste, price, quality of ingredients, and halal status in relation to Kek Lapis Sarawak. It was evident from a consensus among both groups that these attributes significantly influence the overall quality of the product. Results showed that taste was considered the most important factor by sellers, followed by the halal status of their products. Sellers had positive opinions regarding the halal status, with a mean score of 4.813. The study also found that the business of Kek Lapis Sarawak contributes to the economy of Sarawak women, as supported by a p-value less than 0.05 and mean score 4.392. Additionally, sellers agreed that their Kek Lapis Sarawak business helps support their families with a mean score 4.481. The study emphasizes the importance of taste and halal certification and highlights the economic contribution of Kek Lapis Sarawak to the local community in Sarawak. In addition, Kek Lapis Sarawak business also contributes to government revenue and profit through multiple channels: tourism, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) growth, export opportunities, agricultural supply chains, and halal industry development. With proper support and promotion, Kek Lapis Sarawak can serve as both a cultural emblem and an economic asset for Malaysia.