KARAK (Pahang), Jan. 19 -- There's nothing quite like a generous smear of fig jam to go with your cheese and crackers. The touch of sweetness elevates every bite.

But fresh figs? Fresh figs can be an entirely different proposition, especially if you've encountered imported ones that are mushy and tasteless. You reckon this is why folks make fig jam, no?

Lawrence Yew and Cheah Zhao Yan would beg to differ. The two long-time friends turned business partners are counting on Malaysian palates craving something new, specifically fresh figs grown on local soil. Figs that are ripened on the branch and taste right.

But Yew and Cheah are not farmers, but auditors by training. Surely starting a fruit farm - much less growing a fruit many of thei...