Leaving behind a stable five figure salary and comfortable life is not a decision many would make lightly. But for one Malaysian man, family mattered more than financial security.
A 40-year-old former oil and gas (O&G) engineer recently shared how he walked away from his lucrative career in the industry to return home and build a new life from scratch, eventually growing his automotive workshop business into a thriving operation with multiple lots and employees.
Left O&G career to be with family
According to Harian Metro, Luqman Mat previously worked as an instrument engineer at an oil and gas company, earning a five figure income while spending long periods offshore.
However, after three years of “belayar” for work, he made the difficult decision to resign as he could no longer bear being away from his wife, Umi Norihidayah Zulkifli, and their family.
Determined to remain close to them, Luqman used his savings to open a small automotive workshop, combining his passion for cars with the need to provide for his loved ones.
Workshop nearly collapsed after 4 years
Although the business initially showed promise, things eventually took a turn for the worse.
After four years, Luqman said the workshop was on the verge of shutting down due to poor business decisions.
Reflecting on his mistakes, he admitted that he had focused too much on his personal interest in engine swaps and modifications instead of offering regular car servicing, which would have brought in more stable income.
At his lowest point, Luqman nearly gave up entirely.
Friend lent him RM10,000 to restart business
Things changed when Luqman met a friend known as Ah Wa, who offered him practical advice that transformed the direction of his business.
According to Luqman, Ah Wa encouraged him to shift his focus towards car servicing if he wanted the workshop to become profitable.
Despite not being particularly close, Ah Wa also lent him RM10,000 to help restart the business.
Luqman said the gesture deeply moved him, especially because his friend told him to only repay the money if he was able to.
That support gave Luqman the push he needed to start over.
Now runs 4 workshop lots with 7 employees
Starting again with just one small lot, Luqman slowly rebuilt the business.
Today, his workshop has expanded into four lots, including one dedicated to repairing high powered motorcycles.
He also employs seven staff members, comprising six mechanics and one clerk.
Luqman shared that maintaining cleanliness and service quality remains one of his top priorities, something he learned from his earlier experience working at a well known automotive company before entering the O&G field.
He added that proper money management has also helped keep the business stable, even during difficult periods such as the Movement Control Order.
No regrets
Despite giving up a lucrative engineering career, Luqman said he has never regretted his decision.
Instead, he takes pride in being able to turn his hobby into a source of income while staying close to his wife and four children.
He credited much of his strength to his wife, whom he described as his biggest supporter since the very beginning.
While he hopes to expand further in the future by opening another branch, Luqman said those plans are currently on hold due to economic uncertainty and increasing competition in the industry.
Still, he remains grateful for how far he has come after starting over from the bottom.
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