SINTOK, 13 April 2026: The Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) has approved a RM1.2 million allocation to support Universiti Utara Malaysia’s (UUM) initiative to realize the Dapur Siswa MADANI programme, which leverages retort technology as an innovative solution to address student food security on campus.
Designed as a holistic and sustainable initiative, the programme not only seeks to tackle the issue of student hunger, but also functions as an integrated ecosystem to enhance graduate skills, strengthen university-industry collaboration, and create employment opportunities for graduates as well as the local community.
During a visit to the kitchen facility located at Proton Residential Hall (Inasis Proton), the Director-General of Higher Education, Prof Datuk Dr Azlinda Azman, expressed admiration for the initiative and presented a mock cheque amounting to RM324,000 as the first phase of implementation.
UUM Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dr Ahmad Martadha Mohamed, said that the main uniqueness of the Dapur Siswa MADANI in UUM lies in its use of retort technology, whereby food is prepared in bulk at the Central Kitchen (Hub) and then undergoes a high-temperature sterilization process, enabling meals to remain safe for consumption for up to one year without preservatives.
According to him, the meals are subsequently distributed to Satellite Kitchens at student residential halls through the ‘Hab and Jejari’ model.
“At the satellite kitchens, students only need to reheat the meals using an oven or steamer before enjoying them hot. This approach significantly reduces both logistics costs and preparation time.
“Through this initiative, our students, particularly those from the B40 group, no longer have to worry about going hungry, while student volunteers who assist in the operations are also paid through the ‘on campus job’ (OCJ) scheme,” he said.
What makes it more compelling about the Dapur Siswa MADANI is its role as a practical industrial training platform. Students are given hands-on exposure to technical operations, logistics management and halal compliance.
“This practical exposure enhances the marketability of our graduates, making them more competitive compared to their peers who rely solely on theoretical learning in the lecture hall,” he said.
Meanwhile, Principal of Proton Student Residential Hall, Dr Mohd Abidzar Zainol Abidin, who also serves as the Coordinator of the Dapur Siswa MADANI, said that the programme is supported through a hybrid financing model that combines allocations from MoHE, the university, contributions from the corporate sector, and most notable, voluntary contributions from university staff.
“The spirit of ‘Our Campus, Shared Responsibility’ is the cornerstone of this programme’s success.
“The Dapur Siswa MADANI demonstrates that welfare and education can go hand in hand, and it has the potential to become a reference model for universities globally,” he said.
