Jamal offers free food to 1,000 daily for three years

Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos has announced plans to offer free food to 1,000 Malaysians every single day for the next three years.

To be served at his Gabungan NGO 1Malaysia restaurant, which he launched today, he said the idea came to him after he realised that material wealth could not be brought with him to the afterlife.

“This realisation came from my friend who died two months ago. After I buried him, that’s when the realisation came,” Jamal (photo) told reporters today.

He hoped news of this programme would receive wide publicity so that underprivileged Malaysians will benefit.

His restaurant, located along Jalan Pahang in Kuala Lumpur and run by 15 volunteers, operates every weekday from 11am to 3pm.

On offer is a rotating menu that includes ayam masak merah, fish curry, steamed corn, fried fish, fish and vegetable sambal, white rice as well as nasi minyak.

Patrons are not restricted in their food amount but are required to wash their own plates after eating.

Jamal added that he had received financial support from “numerous corporate bodies” for the programme but did not name them.

“Therefore for the next three years, we will have enough funds (to sustain the programme). I believe that the funds will come in continuously and I believe many more corporate people will come forward (to donate).

“If we get a good response from the people, I will do this in Sekinchan as well,” he added.

He estimates the programme will cost RM5,000 a day, with each person’s meal costing RM5.

Following 'muhibbah' concept

Meanwhile, Jamal denied harbouring political motives behind his latest philanthropic programme.

“This is for the next three years, it’s not about the (upcoming) general election. Don’t make a restaurant a political issue.

“I welcome my political friends regardless of whether they are from DAP, PKR or PAS. As long as they are Malaysian.

“However, we do not welcome people from Bangladesh and Myanmar (and other non-citizens).

“We are following the 'muhibbah' (friendly) concept. If you want to call us racist, (you can’t) because this is our concept and we are doing this for the rakyat,” he said.

Jamal previously announced his intention to run for Umno Youth chief, a post presently occupied by Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar.- Mkini