Kajang: A passion for keeping ornamental fish, which began at the age of 10, served as the starting point for the success of Logeswaran Arumugam, 38, who now runs a modern and exclusive aquarium under his company, SLF Pearl Capital Sdn Bhd. Logeswaran founded his aquarium in Jalan Reko, Kajang, Selangor, in 2021, which was born out of his love for aquatic life and a desire to share that passion with the community.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the idea to open the fish store stemmed from a hobby shared by all the company’s shareholders, who have a keen interest in ornamental fish. This shared passion inspired them to transform their hobby into a thriving business, aiming to provide a wide range of aquarium product options for enthusiasts. Logeswaran co-manages the business with his two brothers, Perakash Arumugam and Sakthi Vel Arumugam, with an initial capital raised independently between RM250,000 and RM300,000.
The entrepreneur highlighted that customer response has been very encouraging since the store’s establishment, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic. The business achieves sales of around 40 large aquarium tanks per month, with sizes ranging from three to eight feet and priced between RM1,500 and RM13,500. Hailing from Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan, Logeswaran credits effective marketing strategies for the company’s rapid growth. In 2024, the company’s sales doubled compared to the previous year, reaching total revenue of RM1.8 million, and they aim to double that achievement again this year.
SLF Pearl Capital plans to expand its operations to larger premises, combining the aquarium store with a cafe, expected to open in June to meet growing customer demand. Besides selling ornamental fish, the company offers services for building and maintaining fish ponds, aquarium rentals, and professional maintenance for existing aquariums. To date, the company has served 9,215 customers, selling over 14,711 fish and 376 aquarium tanks, and maintaining 706 aquariums and 279 fish ponds.
The store features popular ornamental fish species such as tetras, koi, goldfish, ‘super red’ arowanas, and freshwater stingrays, with prices starting from RM3 to RM16,000 each. Logeswaran, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, has over 13 years of experience in engineering and real estate. He secured business financing from several local banks, guaranteed by Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Bhd (SJPP), to further strengthen operations.
The entrepreneur shared that financing from Agrobank in April last year allowed them to increase inventory, expand research and development, and introduce new products like hardscape. Additionally, financing from RHB and Maybank will fund the move to the new premises, costing approximately RM450,000 for renovation and new inventory purchases. The company will expand its construction and fish pond services team to meet product demand.
Logeswaran is targeting an annual net profit of RM3 million to strengthen the company’s position in the local aquarium industry. He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to plan thoroughly, establish a solid business foundation, and not rush into expansion. Organizing financial documents and records is crucial for securing bank funds, and he recommends seeking banks supported by SJPP for easier access to funds without collateral.
Logeswaran encourages other entrepreneurs not to give up easily and to take advantage of government opportunities. With support through financing initiatives and assistance outlined in Budget 2025, he is confident entrepreneurs will continue to grow and succeed. His efforts align with the government’s focus on developing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), contributing significantly to the country’s GDP.
Under the MADANI Economic Framework, the government supports local company growth at all levels, evidenced by Budget 2025’s allocation of RM20 billion for guarantees under SJPP for SMEs. In February, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah stated that over 14,000 SMEs received financing approvals worth RM18.5 billion through SJPP in 2024, benefiting more than 75,000 SMEs since its introduction in 2009 until December last year, involving over RM102 billion in financing. Additionally, on May 5, the government increased guarantees by RM1 billion under SJPP to assist exporting SMEs affected by US tariffs.