One day, founder Mazlina Kamarudin asked why they came so often.
“Their answer was simple: they said if they didn’t come here, they wouldn’t eat that day,” she told FMT.
For Mazlina, such stories are a reminder that many continue to struggle behind closed doors, especially as rising living costs place increasing pressure on households.
It is also why she believes no one should be asked to prove they are poor before being offered a meal.
Since opening Rumah Makan Percuma (RMP) with her husband Jaffri Ahmad in July 2020, the couple has welcomed anyone in need through its doors without requiring documents, forms or proof of eligibility.
“We want to make sure nobody has to go hungry,” said Mazlina, who also runs another business, Ayam Bismi.
She said the idea emerged during the pandemic, when many Malaysians lost their jobs, returned to their hometowns and faced financial uncertainty.
Today, RMP serves about 600 people each day, including senior citizens, single mothers, students, daily wage earners, travellers, and those experiencing temporary financial difficulties.
In some cases, visitors are also allowed to collect food coupons for sick family members who are unable to travel, after RMP staff visit and verify their circumstances.
Behind the initiative lies a deeply personal story. Mazlina, the only child of padi farmers in Perlis, grew up in a family that often struggled to make ends meet.
Yet, despite their own hardships, she remembers her father constantly looking for ways to help others.
“My father had very little himself, but he would still go out and look for assistance for villagers who were worse off than we were. That spirit has stayed with me until today,” she said.
The idea for RMP was also shaped by her experiences during umrah, during which she witnessed how strongly the practice of feeding others was encouraged.
Even so, opening the eatery came with its own worries: Mazlina and her husband initially feared they would not be able to prepare enough food if large numbers showed up.
They also wondered whether people would feel embarrassed accepting free meals. But those concerns very quickly faded once they saw how many people were in need.
Today, the eatery operates six days a week, from noon until 1.30pm. Around 70kg of rice is cooked daily, accompanied by dishes such as fried chicken, curry, tomyam, soup and tomato rice, along with vegetables, ulam and sambal belacan.
According to Mazlina, the meals are prepared with the same love and care she would give food served to her own family.
“Even though we provide meals free of charge, the service must be even better than at a paying restaurant. I always remind our staff not to frown, not to be rude and to keep smiling, even when they are tired,” she said.
The initiative is also supported by public donations, helping ensure the meals continue reaching those who need them most.
For Mazlina, RMP’s mission remains unchanged from the day it first opened its doors. No one, she believes, should have to endure hunger in silence.
Learn more about Rumah Makan Percuma on Facebook and Instagram.
Rumah Makan Percuma
17M, Jalan Kampung Kangkong,
Kampung Tanah Seratus Simpang Empat,
06650 Alor Setar, Kedah
Contact: 011-1085 9060