Order up: A worker at a Hameediyah outlet in George Town, Penang showing off their Menu Rahmah offering.
GEORGE TOWN: The oldest nasi kandar restaurant in the country has joined the Menu Rahmah bandwagon, but it hopes consumers will not “abuse” the initiative.
Hameediyah Restaurant manager Muhammad Salim Ahamed Seeni Pakir said it wanted to make its nasi kandar available primarily to the B40 community and hoped other consumers would act responsibly.
“We hope our customers will have empathy and know that this initiative is for the poor and needy,” he said, adding that the restaurant would not have a mechanism to stop anyone from buying its Menu Rahmah selections.
Muhammad Salim said this after the launch of Menu Rahmah at the restaurant, well known for its nasi kandar since its inception in 1907.
Menu Rahmah will be available at Hameediyah Restaurant outlets in Sungai Ara and Campbell Street starting from next month.
“We might offer Menu Rahmah selections at specific hours and those who come then can enjoy the reduced prices,” he said.
For the B40 group to enjoy Hameediyah Restaurant’s cooking, Muhammad Salim said a meal that would normally be sold at RM10 would instead be priced at RM5 under Menu Rahmah.
This original price breakdown, he said, would be rice (RM1), fried chicken or fish (RM5.50), vegetables (RM2.50) and cordial drink (RM1).
State Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director S. Jegan, who attended the launch, said the ministry encouraged food operators to join the initiative, which was introduced on Jan 31.
He said the programme would enable customers from the B40 group to enjoy balanced meals at RM5 at selected outlets.
“It is a quick-win initiative to reduce cost of living for the people,” he said.
Jegan said since its introduction, 18 food operators here had come on board.
He said the initiative would be expanded to public and private universities soon to assist students from B40 families.
