Thi Huong preparing chicken rice priced at RM3. Her sister Thi Minh runs a similar stall nearby.
FOOD operators in Johor Baru and Kulai are keeping their prices low to help lessen customers’ burden despite an increase in cost of ingredients.
Among them is Nor Azlina Abd Rahman, 46, who has been selling rice with chicken and vegetables at RM5 even before the Menu Rahmah programme kicked off earlier this year.
“My husband and I started our business three years ago when many were struggling to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We came up with nasi bajet, which is rice with chicken, gravy and a vegetable of their choice at RM5, to help ease our customers’ burden.
Nor Azlina (right) working in the kitchen with one of her workers.
“We rebranded the meal to Menu Rahmah as people are familiar with the nationwide programme,” she told StarMetro when met at her restaurant in Bandar Baru Uda in Johor Baru.
She said the RM5 meal was previously served once a week on Fridays but due to the current economic situation, it was now available daily.
“It has been two months since we introduced our daily Menu Rahmah meals. We are coping despite not making much profit.
“There are many factory workers here who look forward to our Menu Rahmah dishes. At least they can afford a hearty meal without having to fork out too much,” she added.
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Nor Azlina said she and her husband Muhammad Farid Abdullah, 48, knew that many people were struggling to make ends meet.
“My husband and I are not from rich families and we know how difficult it was for our parents to put food on the table.”
Nor Azlina’s daughter Nurul Wahieda Muhammad Farid, 25, showing a serving of Menu Rahmah at the restaurant.
She said they both worked in Singapore for about two decades but lost their jobs when the border closed in March 2020.
“We had to leave our jobs because we could no longer commute between Johor and Singapore daily,” she said.
Nor Azlina said they lived on their savings for nine months before starting their business.
“Later, we rented a shop,” she said, adding that her husband was a chef in Singapore while she worked as an accounts clerk at a cafe.
Vinesh preparing food for his customers at his shop. — Photos: THOMAS YONG/The Star
She said although the price of rice was now higher, she was still able to maintain her Menu Rahmah meals.
“As long as we can cope and do not suffer losses, we will continue to provide the meal.
“Nowadays, more people are dependent on Menu Rahmah to cope with the rising cost of living,” she added.
Sisters Vu Thi Huong, 38, and Vu Thi Minh, 41, sold RM3 chicken rice at their stalls in Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, Skudai.
Selvaraju hopes Menu Rahmah will be served at more eateries to help people with financial constraints.
Thi Huong said, “Instead of operating one stall together, we opened stalls at two different coffeeshops located just a few shops away from each other.
“This way, if I run out of rice, customers can go to my sister’s stall nearby and vice-versa as there is a high demand for our RM3 meal.”
She added that the stalls are open at the same time between 6am and 1pm.
“We open our stalls early because there are customers who eat chicken rice for breakfast. Many pack a meal for lunchtime or for their children to take to school,” she said.
Thi Huong said they had maintained the same pricing for the past five years because their customers could not afford to fork out a lot of money for food.
“There are many people including senior citizens and single mothers buying chicken rice from us,” she said.
“If we increase the price by a few sen, they will be affected.
“For now, we can cope and make some profit. I do not think we will increase the price any time soon.”
Caterer Vinesh Shenthil Kumar, 38, has been keeping the prices of his home-cooked Indian meals low.
Vinesh, who caters to university students and B40 folk in Johor Baru, is selling his meals for as low as RM4.
“I used to run a restaurant but shut it down after a few months as I was struggling to get workers and it was difficult coping with rising operational cost,” he said.
“Later, I opened a catering business at my shop because it allows me to operate without needing many workers. I also cater for events.
“At first, I sold meals for RM8 or more depending on the menu but then I met a customer who told me of the students’ plight.”
Vinesh said he received an order from a Universiti Teknologi Malaysia student a few months ago.
“She left a good review and so I texted and told her that she could place an order directly with me so she would not need to pay delivery charges.
“She told me that she and her friends loved my home-cooked dishes because it reminded them of home.
“That struck a chord with me as I remembered how much I missed my mum’s cooking when I was a student living away from home,” he said.
Vinesh creates different menus for customers every day, with prices ranging between RM4 and RM6 per dish
“Apart from home-cooked Indian food, I also make noodles, nasi minyak and a variety of dishes.
“There is a cut-off time for customers to let me know their orders. I will then prepare the meals and deliver it to them,” he said, adding that he does not charge for delivery.
He said there were over 600 participants in the group chat created for placing orders.
“I also receive requests from B40 folk wanting to buy meals at lower prices.
“There are also customers who place orders because they want to donate meals to temples or the poor,” he said, hoping his reasonably priced food would lessen the burden of people, especially students.
One restaurant owner serving Menu Rahmah meals is K. Selvaraju, 43, who runs a 24-hour business in Kulai.
“It is not impossible to provide RM5 meals if proper budgeting is done.
“We cannot use the excuse of the rising cost of living to not even give it a try.
“Although businesses may not earn much by offering Menu Rahmah meals, they will not suffer losses either.
“We are doing a good deed, especially during times like this where many are struggling,” he said.
Selvaraju, who is Malaysia Indian Restaurants Association assistant honorary treasurer, is hoping more restaurateurs will embrace the Menu Rahmah initiative.
“There are people facing financial constraints in every corner of the country. If we have more businesses providing such affordable food, I am sure the public will be grateful,” he said.
“I also hope the government creates other incentives such as Menu Rahmah vouchers for the public or subsidies for businesses providing the meals.
“This will encourage more people to offer Menu Rahmah at their eateries.”
Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo said apart from restaurants and stall owners, food truck operators were selling Menu Rahmah meals too.
“I am glad that there are many businesses serving Menu Rahmah.
“Although this is a voluntary initiative, we encourage businesses to take it up and we appreciate those who do so.
“In fact, some of the food truck operators are also collaborating with us during our Jualan Rahmah programme,” she said.
Jualan Rahmah is the ministry’s initiative where the people attending the programme are able to get discounts of between 15% and 20%.
The ministry has been holding the programme twice a month at 640 state constituencies nationwide since August.
