TANJONG MALIM, Oct 14 (Bernama) -- The implementation of Dapur Siswa MADANI at polytechnics and teacher education institutes will be tailored to the needs and facilities of each institution to ensure students facing financial difficulties have access to food assistance.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said the programme could include facilities for students to prepare their own meals or cook in groups, with food distributed to students in need.
“Please come forward to seek assistance. We hope the problem of students going hungry can be resolved through this initiative,” he told reporters after officiating at the closing ceremony of the KARISMA Higher Education Young Leaders Convention 2026 at Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI) here today.
Zambry said the government had not set a specific target for the number of beneficiaries, as the priority was to ensure that every student requiring food assistance could access the facilities.
He said he had visited universities to assess their conditions and preparations to meet students' basic needs, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's emphasis on student welfare at higher education institutions.
“That is why I have gone to the ground to see for myself the situation and the preparations being made at each university,” he said.
Zambry said the initiative reflected the government's commitment to addressing students' basic needs, particularly food security among those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Dapur Siswa MADANI programme was expanded to all polytechnics and teacher education institutes nationwide following its announcement by Anwar when tabling Budget 2027 on Oct 9, with an allocation of RM20 million.
The initiative includes the provision of cooking equipment, food supplies and the Menu Kasih Siswa meal programme, which offers meals for as little as RM5.
Also present at the convention's closing ceremony were UPSI vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff and Higher Education Leadership Academy (AKEPT) director and KARISMA Higher Education Young Leaders Convention 2026 adviser Prof Dr Harshita Aini Haroon.
-- BERNAMA