By Irdina Zainudin
The Menu Rahmah Programme is an initiative that was launched by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) on 31st January 2023. The program is established with the intention to help and reduce the cost of living for citizens, especially those in the B40 community and the hardcore poor, as well as aiming for them to be fed sufficiently.
After the announcement of the establishment of the Menu Rahmah Programme, several fast-food chains have been introducing their own Menu Rahmah items since then.
Despite the program being voluntary for restaurants and food stalls to join, a variety of popular fast-food chains like McDonald’s, A&W and Domino’s Pizza have offered a few selections of their menu under the programme.
All of those items are priced under RM5, although there are and will be other restaurants, food stalls or fast-food chains that will price their menu items lower.
Despite the programme originally targeting restaurants and food stalls, fast-food chains are jumping on the bandwagon as the programme has been well-received by the people.
According to the people’s reactions on the internet after a few fast-food chains launched their own Menu Rahmah, they opined that it seems to be the correct move. Not only does this initiative attract more people to come and buy from their menu, but they will also possibly receive loyal customers from this initiative.
Numerous responses voiced their support for fast-food chains that were offering items in the Menu Rahmah, but also voiced their encouragement to other fast-food chains by asking them to join the programme too.
A few of the responses regarding fast-food chains offering Menu Rahmah mentioned that it is now affordable for people to buy fast food, especially when they feel like they want to satisfy their craving for it, or how students can afford these foods, without thinking twice about the price that often can be a little expensive without the Menu Rahmah programme. However, this is also specifically beneficial for the B40 community if they wanted to eat fast-food from any fast-food chain that offers the Rahmah menu, without having to worry about the expensive prices that they could not afford before.
Regardless, there are still a few people who voiced their concerns about it.
One of the concerns being raised is that Menu Rahmah is supposed to qualify as offering nutritious and well-balanced meals for consumers ─ most people know that fast-food meals are far from healthy.
Nonetheless, the support outweighs the objections as Malaysians continue to voice their support and suggestions for other fast-food chains to offer the Menu Rahmah as they had not done so yet.