ALOR SETAR, April 11 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) has approved RM1.2 million in funding for Universiti Utara Malaysia's (UUM) Dapur Siswa MADANI initiative, which harnesses retort technology.
Higher Education director-general Prof Datuk Dr Azlinda Azman said the holistic programme tackles campus hunger while creating an innovative ecosystem to sharpen graduate skills, strengthen university-industry links, and generate local jobs.
She visited the central kitchen at INASIS Proton UUM Sintok today and presented a RM324,000 cheque for phase one of the initiative’s implementation.
Meanwhile, UUM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed said retort technology is what sets the university’s Dapur Siswa MADANI apart.
"Meals are batch-cooked at the central hub kitchen and high-heat sterilised to stay fresh for up to a year, without preservatives. They're then shipped out to satellite kitchens in the dorms using a hub-and-spoke setup.
"…students simply reheat the meals in a microwave or steamer for a hot meal, cutting down on logistics costs and time," he said in a statement today.
He said that with this initiative, UUM students, especially those from the B40 category, will not go hungry, and that student volunteers will be paid through on-campus jobs (OCJ).
"Dapur Siswa MADANI doubles as an industry training hub, letting students run technical ops, manage logistics, and ensure halal standards. This real-world experience sharpens their employability," he said.
INASIS Proton principal and Dapur Siswa MADANI coordinator, Dr Mohd Abidzar Zainol Abidin, said a hybrid funding model combines the MOHE and university funds with corporate donations and staff contributions.
"The spirit of Kampus Kita, Tanggungjawab Bersama (Our Campus, Our Shared Responsibility) drives this programme's success. Dapur Siswa MADANI proves welfare and education can thrive together, positioning it as a potential global university model,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
