The Pantry@Mont Kiara in Kuala Lumpur opened its door today to provide affordable meals to the needy.
Group managing director Vivek Sasheendran said the main aim of opening the food hall, which serves western and local dishes, was to help the underprivileged as he believes no one should go hungry.
He said that the concept of the food hall was done in collaboration with Yayasan Prihatin Nasional.
“We have a collection of Prihatin set meals which are RM9 and below. RM1 from each meal will be channelled towards the special fund for their charitable causes.
“We have been working around the Mont Kiara area for 14 years. We noticed that not all eateries cater to all the people. Because of the 'post code', everyone believes that everybody can afford (to eat) here.
“We found a place and started scouting for vendors. We told them the meals should be RM9 and below and the drinks priced accordingly.
“We understand that a lot of staff working around here don’t earn much. So, we hope this (Pantry) will help them.”
He added that they plan to expand this concept around Kuala Lumpur then look at other states.
A collection of eight vendors have come together to serve local and western dishes such as chicken rice, claypot, noodles and other dishes.
Yayasan Prihatin Nasional (PRIHATIN), chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Aizuddin Ghazali said they are excited to work on this collaboration.
“Each ringgit that they collect will be donated to Prihatin. In turn we will channel the funds to the poor communities which are mostly families from the low-cost flats (PPR).
“We go down every week to the PPR to give them aid. At the PPR we have two projects to help the needy.
“The first is called 'doctors on the ground' where we go to the PPR with government doctors. We will visit the families there that need medical care.
“We also donate wheelchairs, beds, medical kits for those in need and give them some funds. We also give out pampers, milk, rice, food baskets and others, especially for the B40 monthly.”
He said to date we have covered about 300 PPR blocks and visited 37,000 communities at the flats in all 11 parliamentary districts.
Aizuddin also said that they use the funds to help students in public universities around the country.
“The Prihatin project is conducted throughout the country, even in Sabah and Sarawak.
“We go down to Kedah, Kelantan and other states. But this project is centered around the PPR in Federal Territory.” – May 15, 2024.
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