It goes without saying that our money doesn’t stretch quite as far as it used to, what with inflation and the cost of living in Malaysia increasing over time. And that is only further set to be exacerbated by a looming recession that many believe will occur sometime this year.
In light of those circumstances, many ordinary Malaysians may be left with no choice but to find ways to get by on less while tightening their belts to balance their expenses, with some resorting to skipping out on meals and going hungry to do so. But one Malaysian hawker has decided to make a point to ensure that everybody can enjoy a hot meal when they need one, even if they may not be able to afford it.
M’sian hawker gives out free meals to those who can’t afford to eat
Meet local F&B entrepreneur Ms Nurul Shima, who recently kick-started her own initiative of providing free meals to the underprivileged from her stall over social media.
“Don’t have enough money to eat? Tell me? I’m happy to give you a free meal.
Stop rummaging around looking for money in your pockets, only to wind up placing back a packet of food because you cannot afford it.
I can’t handle such situations. I am easily moved. I can afford to give away two to four packets of rice without sustaining much of a loss, InsyaAllah.” she wrote.
Speaking to WauPost on the matter, she explains that she has been selling budget meals since the MCO period back in 2020, and was first inspired to do so when she realised how expensive eating out has become. Prior to this, she ran a home business doing meal deliveries since 2012.
“I thought of selling budget meals after one time when I paid RM7 for half a serving of white rice, a scoop of vegetables, and a piece of salted fish. If people lack the means, how can they afford it? Nevermind the fact that so many people were affected during MCO.
I told my husband about my intentions and he supported me. Initially, my eldest son helped me pack the meals and take care of the stall. But when he entered university, my mother and younger siblings offered to help out.” she explained.
With business doing well, Nurul has managed to sustain her business for three years with her meals selling at a modestly-priced RM3.50. Admitting that she doesn’t earn much from her home delivery business, she said she was content that she could still keep it afloat while helping others in need during MCO.
Came from humble beginnings herself
She goes on to say that she empathised with those who are destitute, as she herself grew from humble beginnings. In fact her family was so poor, she was left with no choice but to use rags sewn together to serve as a sanitary pad during her period.
“We couldn’t afford reference books either, so I would collect paper scraps from the class trash bin and copy important notes from my friends.” she adds.
As for the meals offered at her stall, Nurul said that she prepares 4 different dishes for sale every afternoon.
“Two dishes are usually chicken, with one beef dish and one fish dish. Sometimes we offer prawns or squid, but that depends on the market price of both ingredients.”
With her prices remaining the same since she started back in 2020, Nurul says she only makes a small profit from selling budget meals. But regardless of which, she is happy to channel the profits back into the community to those in need, whenever they reach out to her.
But most importantly, Nurul advises readers never to forget where they came from and to always remember their roots, regardless of where they happen to now be in life.
For orders or other inquiries, you may reach out to Nurul via her business Instagram page here.
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