10/02/2026

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TUESDAY | FEB 10, 2026

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Local food project model of community-driven success

NGO launches free ‘pop-up’ meal initiative IPOH: Driven by a desire to support those facing financial hardship, especially students struggling with dwindling daily budgets towards the end of the month, NGO Kinta Kindheartedness Club has introduced a free food initiative titled “Tak Yah Bayor!!! Ambik Je”. Programme adviser and director Azlan Muhammad Shukri said while the club has been running similar outreach efforts since 2015, their focus was previously limited to orphans and the homeless. This year they have expanded their reach to include the general public in underprivileged areas and locations with high student populations. “Anyone who feels hungry or in need can simply come and take free food and drinks. It does not matter who you are, there is no registration and no strings attached,” he said during the programme’s debut in Meru on Sunday. With a mission to ignite a spirit of charity towards vulnerable groups, the association plans to hold these events every two weeks or once a month, moving between locations across various cities and towns. The concept is built around a simple, people-friendly “pop-up stall” that makes food easily accessible. Beyond feeding the hungry, the initiative also serves as a direct channel for donors who prefer giving back through cooked meals or basic supplies rather than navigating the complexities of monetary donations. Azlan said they only accept ready-to-eat meals, which are immediately distributed, and if any food remains at the end of the day, it is donated to local mosques, prayer halls or orphanages. The inaugural event proved to be a resounding success thanks to word of mouth on social media. A crowd gathered between 3pm and 5pm, and all 1,000 food packs, including fried noodles, vermicelli and fried rice, were snapped up within two hours. For those looking to contribute food or volunteer their time, the NGO encourages reaching out directly to its representative or contacting him at 016-2848773. – Bernama

NIBONG TEBAL: The snack and traditional food project run by the Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Taman Puteri Gunung has become a model of success, showing how community-driven initiatives can boost local entrepreneurship while fostering cooperation and skills development. RT Progresif Taman Puteri Gunung project head Noor Jahan Shamsudeen said the project, which started in November 2024, focuses on five main food products, namely fried bitter gourd, kuih kapit, mini popiah, kuih siput and muruku , produced by five local women entrepreneurs. She noted that fried bitter gourd is the best-selling product while kuih kapit and muruku are also popular among customers. The products were chosen for their broad appeal across age groups and steady market demand, Bernama reported. The initiative received RM6,900 in grants from the National Unity Ministry via the Penang National Unity and Integration Department, covering ingredients, equipment and training, including marketing guidance. “As there are no facilities at the Kawasan Rukun Tetangga centre, all production is done at home according to orders, with packaging handled through communal effort by committee members and 20 women.” On marketing, she said the snacks are promoted through social media, such as Facebook and WhatsApp, as well as through various programmes and sales organised by government departments and agencies. She added that the products have received strong support, with steady orders from friends and government offices, and have even reached markets outside Penang, including Kuala Lumpur, increasing the visibility of Kawasan Rukun Tetangga on a wider scale. Positive customer feedback has encouraged Kawasan Rukun Tetangga to plan for more o Products chosen for broad appeal across age groups and steady market demand

additional RM1,900. “We have an evaluation and monitoring committee, as well as supervising officers at the district level who review the progress of projects through monthly presentations to track performance against programme benchmarks.” He noted that three other Kawasan RTs in South Seberang Perai received grants under the RT Progresif programme, namely Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Changkat/Ladang Changkat, which manages kelulut honey production, Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Taman Desa Jawi, which focuses on pastries, and Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Jalan Bukit Panchor, which provides catering services. The RT Progresif programme was established to empower community economies across livelihoods, community safety and resilience, leadership, social wellbeing, lifelong learning, environmental stewardship, heritage and culture and innovation.

product variations in the future. “We hope the National Unity Department could provide additional grants to purchase equipment, boost production, improve packaging and carry out more intensive promotion to expand the market for our products,” she said. South Seberang Perai unity officer Mohd Fahmi Ibrahim said the department plays a key role by providing financial support, training and continuous monitoring to ensure the successful implementation of the RT Progresif programme. He explained that the assistance is designed to maximise both economic returns and social wellbeing, with funding allocated based on the specific type and needs of each community project. “For Kawasan Rukun Tetangga Taman Puteri Gunung, we initially approved RM5,000 for product development, followed by an

HONOURING HERITAGE ... Participants of Salam Unity Explorace 2026, held in conjunction with the 123rd birth anniversary of former prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, gathered at the Tunku Abdul Rahman Memorial in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate the legacy of the Father of Independence and National Unity. – ADAM AMIR HAMZAH/THESUN

Education retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026.

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