Rural folk get to enjoy Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia too

SIBU: Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia ( MR1M) has spread its wings to the rural areas of the state.

Speaking to reporters after launching MR1M at Lina Café and Kafe Tujuh in Kanowit yesterday, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co- operatives and Consumerism ( MDTCC) state director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman said they were getting rural eateries to join the programme.

“That way rural folk too will be able to treat themselves to RM2.50 breakfast and RM5 lunch.

“Sarawak has 175 participating outlets for MR1M programme and response keeps getting better. In fact, we surpassed our target of 150 last year, with 170 joining MR1M,” Wan Uzir said, adding they were targeting another 60 outlets this year.

The ministry’s Sibu branch chief Balraj Singh and Kanowit district officer Ibrahim Kipli were also present.

Kuching has the most number of participating outlets, he said, adding that Sibu division had 23.

Giving the overall breakdown of 175 outlets by race, he said Malays had 113; Chinese ( 35); Tamil (11) and others (16).

As for Sibu, there were 11 Malay outlets; Chinese (five); Tamil (three) and others (four).

Turning to the two participating outlets in Kanowit, he said they were graded A and B respectively in terms of hygiene and cleanliness.

He stressed there were many merits that came with the programme, characterised by better business for operators and value meals for consumers.

Wan Uzir recalled receiving a constant flow of positive feedbacks from MR1M outlets.

He explained that MR1M was an initiative by the government to cushion the impact of spiraling global food prices.

Citing Mandarin oranges as an example, he said bad weather in China had affected production, causing prices to soar as demand exceeded supply.

“Therefore, it is our fervent hope that with the programme the people will be able to enjoy their breakfast and meal at competitive prices.”

He recalled having a dialogue with the health department to introduce the programme previously, following complaints of higher prices of food sold in hospital canteens in Kuching.

Since joining the menu, there was no more complaint, he noted.