Volunteers stirring a pot of beef knuckle with potatoes in oyster sauce and soya sauce to serve to fellow residents. — Photos: ART CHEN/The Star
A GROUP of 45 residents from the Taman Wahyu People’s Housing Project (PPR) in Batu Caves volunteered to cook free lunch for 400 neighbours.
The programme called “Rewang Bersama Kimball” was initiated by the food brand in Malaysia and Suria FM – a Malay language radio station under Star Media Group.
Preparations began as early as 8.30am at the community hall under the supervision of chef Asma Nordin.
The menu consisted of dishes made with Kimball’s range of pasta and sauces, including Fried Chicken in Ayam-nara, Stewed Beef Knuckle with Potatoes, Macaroni in Tomato and Mushroom Sauce and Deep-fried Chili Eggplant.
“Ready made sauces are not just time-saving when cooking for a big crowd, but are cost-effective too,” said Asma.
There was also lively banter between Suria FM’s Nor Shafiza Iskandar Azizan, aka Cik Piah, and the event coordinators Afiq Nazam and Awien Khoriri.
The trio kept the volunteers and hungry crowd in stitches.
PPR residents enjoying the free lunch thanks to volunteers and Kimball.
PPR Taman Wahyu Residents Association committee member Wan Syurulniza Wan Ismail said the residents were close-knit.
“We believe strongly in community programmes because it fosters friendship, understanding and togetherness,” she said.
“They instil affection. We have this saying in Bahasa Malaysia – when we are in love, everything will be smooth.”
Association chairman Abdullah Uda Saidi said, “In 2024, there were 40 events with sponsorship from non-governmental organisations, community leaders and the private sector.”
One of the benefits of good neighbourliness is a clean and tidy environment, he added.
By 10.30am, 60% of the cooking was done.
The volunteers divided themselves up into groups and competed to finish the fastest.
In the end, the team making the Fried Chicken in Ayam-nara finished first, prompting the others to quip that their dishes were more difficult.
Positive feedback from the lunch crowd made all their hard work worth it, with one table rating the dishes 10/10.
Volunteers were also rewarded with goodie bags of Kimball sauces and pasta by The Arnott’s Group sales director Tan Jun Hao, marketing lead Joan Yep and brand manager Rachel Hui.
