Learn from the past, restaurant owners say on Menu Rahmah

The government has been urged to take a leaf from the experiences of past affordable food programmes, as concerns rise about the sustainability of its Menu Rahmah initiative just weeks after its launch. 

Under the Menu Rahmah programme, meals are sold for as low as RM5 per set as part of the government's efforts to alleviate the financial burden of those in the lower-income bracket. 

But with the cost of raw goods and essential food items on the rise, the question remains of how long the initiative can continue on its present model of volunteerism. 

Fairuz Deli, who has been in the restaurant and catering business for more than 30 years, said the concept of budget meals would not last for long without funds or subsidies from the government. 

He suggested that the government learn from the Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia (MR1M) programme implemented during the Najib Razak administration more than a decade ago. 

At that time, he said, a chain of restaurants known as Restoran Ukhwah was established and some 1,115 eateries participated in the initiative to provide side dishes for RM3 to RM5, inclusive of beverages. 

Fairuz, who then owned an eatery in Taman Sri Murni Selayang, was among the restaurant operators who participated in MR1M. 

He said business operations continued for the first six months despite the spike in cost of goods that came about in 2011. 

"The price of red chilli, fish and vegetables really rose then, from RM8 to RM13 or even RM15 per kg," he recalled. 

"Vegetables went from RM2.50 to RM3.50, tomatoes that used to cost RM4 rose to RM5, and lime went from RM3 to RM5.

"And prices have continued rising, even until today," he added. "How could we be expected to go on?"

And so, after six months, he said, he stopped selling food at midday and began running his business from afternoon to late night instead. 

This allowed him to recuperate some of the money that he lost due to expenses that overtook profits. 

Today, Fairuz runs a restaurant in Section 7, Shah Alam. Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he said he did not intend to embark on such a venture again by joining the Menu Rahmah programme.

He said customers could still enjoy affordable meals at his restaurant without him needing to participate in the initiative. 

"You can get toast and a drink, or roti jala with chicken curry or white rice with egg sambal and vegetables for less than RM7," he said. 

"For years, I have been serving the students who come here to eat. I don't think there's a need to wait for Menu Rahmah or anything like that." 
 
Economic concerns

Fairuz also voiced concern about how long Menu Rahmah would last given the current economic challenges. 

He said many businesses were already suffering from high operation costs and the cost of rental and utilities, in addition to paying the monthly salary of their workers. 

"Unless there are funds or subsidies from the government, I think it will fold after four months," he said. 

"Look at all the restaurants here that have been taken over by others. And prices have only gone up since 2011. 

"It cannot last," he said. "When things are so expensive, how can we sell them at affordable prices?"

The domestic trade and cost of living ministry, which is overseeing Menu Rahmah, said yesterday that talks were ongoing on the provision of incentives for those involved in the initiative. 

Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said the talks were still at an early stage, and that the form of incentives had not been decided.

At a Restoran Ukhwah outlet in Medan Tuanku, Kuala Lumpur, business appeared slow. 

A customer who introduced himself as Anuar Khan said the original business had long been taken over by another operator. 

Anuar, who regularly visits the restaurant, said the MR1M programme once implemented there had stopped so long ago that he barely remembered it anymore. 

In Kota Warisan, Sepang, meanwhile, restaurant owner Syazwani Abdul Hamid said he had been enthusiastic at first about joining the Menu Rahmah programme. 

After a week, though, he said the enormity of the task began to sink in. 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he said the price of the meals was not enough to cover the operating expenses, especially the cost of employee salaries. 

He also expressed reservations about how to ensure that the meals reach the target demographics. 

"Actually, it can be done," he said. "We can prepare rice sets at that price level. 

"But we are the ones who must bear the cost. We can reduce the amount of chicken that goes into the meal, but the price of oil, for example, is still very high. And that isn't taking into consideration the cost of other essential ingredients.

"We also need to pay the people who wash and cook. They don't work for free." 

Eventually, Syazwani decided to stop providing Menu Rahmah meals. Today, he sells only regular mixed rice.

"I think this is better because the customers can decide for themselves," he said. 

"If they want more, they pay more. If they want to save, they can choose fewer things. And it makes things easier for me in terms of administration." 

Syazwani said he still believed in the Menu Rahmah programme and its benefits, especially for those in need who are struggling to keep up with the cost of living. 

But he too said that without government funds, the programme might not last long.

He said the government should also come up with ways to lower the inflation rate or provide subsidies for restaurant owners participating in the Menu Rahmah initiative. 

"They need to understand, nothing is free in life – especially not now, when everything is becoming more expensive," he said.