logo
Digital Kitchen initiative expands to 10 more PPRs in KL

Digital Kitchen initiative expands to 10 more PPRs in KL

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dapur Digital initiative is entering its second year by expanding to 10 more People's Housing Projects (PPRs) in the city, following strong sales and growing community engagement.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa highlighted the government's support for community-based social enterprises as Dapur Digital received a RM5 million boost from the Finance Ministry in the 2025 Budget to establish 25 additional locations nationwide.
Spearheaded by Pepper Labs, the initiative has surpassed RM1.08 million in total sales since its 2024 launch, with five pilot kitchens empowering B40 communities in KL to generate income through cooking and e-commerce.
"So far, the entrepreneurs involved come from five People Housing Projects (PPRs), with around 10 people per PPR. There may be more once their local communities become more engaged," Zaliha told a press conference after the KL Dapur Digital 2025 Keys Handover today.
"Ultimately, what we want is for this social entrepreneurship model to be extended to more communities so that in the Federal Territory, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, we are not only talking about physical development but also about human and community development."
She said the participants of the programme, which is based on a public-private partnership model, are not only trained in food preparation but also in digital marketing and financial management.
The training is also conducted near participants' homes, Zaliha added, enabling convenient access and allowing the kitchens to evolve into community hubs.
Dapur Digital is part of the Federal Territories Department's broader strategy to eradicate hardcore poverty under Program Usaha Jaya Insan (PUJI) action plan.
In addition to support from government agencies, the initiative sees cooperation from private partners such as Media Prima, Maxis, Brahim's, PPB Group, Shopee, TikTok and Grab Malaysia.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Federation of Sabah Industries concerned reforms too much to handle
Federation of Sabah Industries concerned reforms too much to handle

Daily Express

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Express

Federation of Sabah Industries concerned reforms too much to handle

Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025 Text Size: Sylvester said without immediate policy intervention, this will inevitably result in higher operational costs, supply chain disruptions, and increased prices for consumers. Kota Kinabalu: The Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) voiced concerns over the compounded operational and financial challenges faced by industries following the implementation of several significant regulatory changes in 2025. FSI Treasurer Sylvester Chua stated that the recent expansion of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) scope effective 1 July 2025, combined with the increase in minimum wage to RM1,700, the mandatory e-invoicing rollout for companies with turnover between RM5 million and RM50 million, and the impending 2pc EPF contribution for foreign workers starting October 2025, have collectively imposed a heavy administrative and financial burden on businesses in Sabah. 'Industries are struggling to manage overlapping compliance demands within a compressed implementation timeline. 'The absence of clear, transitional guidelines particularly concerning business-to-business (B2B) exemptions and the application procedures for raw materials and intermediate goods exemptions has led to confusion, operational disruption, and rising compliance costs,' he said. He further noted that in the Sabah context, most raw materials are acquired for the manufacturing of end products. 'Therefore, full exemptions for raw materials, components, intermediate goods, and manufacturing equipment from Sales Tax regardless of the tax status of the finished product are critical. 'Not only would this relieve manufacturers of unnecessary tax-on-tax burdens, but it would also reduce compliance documentation and audit preparation costs, which have now become an added strain on industries already facing higher logistics and infrastructure costs. 'The combined financial impact of wage increases, SST compliance costs, e-invoicing obligations, and the soon-to-be implemented EPF contribution for foreign workers is severely pressuring the viability of manufacturers and SMEs in Sabah,' he warned. Sylvester said without immediate policy intervention, this will inevitably result in higher operational costs, supply chain disruptions, and increased prices for consumers. 'In light of these issues, FSI is committed to raising these concerns directly with the Federal Government on behalf of Sabah's business community. 'The federation urgently appeals to the Prime Minister and the Federal Government to introduce a comprehensive and industry-friendly B2B exemption framework, alongside clear, practical implementation guidelines to support businesses through this challenging period. 'FSI also wishes to commend the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Sabah for its proactive engagement and support during the early stages of implementation.' However, as Sylvester Chua pointed out, key areas such as B2B exemptions, raw material and products classifications, and exemption application procedures still require urgent clarification and improved administrative processes to avoid further uncertainty and disruptions. 'The Federation of Sabah Industries (FSI) reaffirms its commitment to working closely with authorities and stakeholders to ensure that industrial policies and taxation frameworks are equitable, practical, and responsive to the unique economic conditions and operational realities faced by industries in Sabah,' he said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

KL gears up for 58th Asean Ministerial Meeting
KL gears up for 58th Asean Ministerial Meeting

The Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Sun

KL gears up for 58th Asean Ministerial Meeting

KUALA LUMPUR: The metropolis is gearing up to impress as Asean foreign ministers descend on the country's capital. Kuala Lumpur is rolling out the red carpet as it prepares to host Asean foreign ministers from July 8 to 11 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, with the city aiming to project a polished image as Malaysia holds this year's Asean chairmanship. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said KL City Hall is spearheading logistics and city preparations for the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting – from safety to street-level cleanliness. 'We're not just welcoming high-level delegates, we're showcasing Kuala Lumpur to the region. 'City Hall is working closely with multiple agencies to ensure everything runs smoothly, and that the city leaves a strong impression,' Zaliha told reporters after presenting keys to 10 Dapur Digital (cloud kitchen) entrepreneurs at Menara DBKL yesterday. Efforts to spruce up the city are already in full swing, but the minister stressed that maintaining cleanliness is not just the job of local authorities. 'We've launched several initiatives involving City Hall, local communities, NGOs, hotels and student volunteers. Cleanliness is a shared responsibility – it's not just up to the council.' The 58th Asean Ministerial Meeting (AMM) will see foreign ministers from 10 member states – Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – gather in Kuala Lumpur. Timor-Leste's foreign minister will also attend as the country pushes for full Asean membership. On the Dapur Digital initiative, the minister said the five pilot digital kitchens launched last year had shown strong results. As of end-May, the combined sales of digital kitchens at the People's Housing Projects in five sites – Intan Baiduri, Wangsa Sari, Kerinchi, Kampung Limau and Setapak Jaya – had surpassed RM1.08 million. 'This is clear proof that when given the opportunity, our people can thrive. 'Building on this success, Budget 2025 has allocated RM5 million to roll out 25 more digital kitchens nationwide. Ten of these will be in KL, positioning the Federal Territory as the frontrunner in this initiative,' said Zaliha. The 10 KL sites are: Seri Semarak, Hiliran Ampang, Seri Alam, Raya Permai, Kampung Muhibbah, Taman Mulia, Beringin, Pangsapuri Sentul Utara, PA Sri Kedah and PA Seri Perlis II. The Dapur Digital initiative serves, not only as modern community kitchens, but also as food processing hubs, e-commerce spaces, skills training centres and venues for community activities.

RM50 million allocation for financing via AgroPintar
RM50 million allocation for financing via AgroPintar

Daily Express

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Express

RM50 million allocation for financing via AgroPintar

Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025 Text Size: Kota Kinabalu: Agrobank has allocated RM50 million to facilitate microfinancing access through its Agro Pintar Niaga Programme (AgroPintar), alongside an additional RM5 million in i-TEKAD matching grants. Its Group President Datuk Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin said the programme will support microenterprises through business and contract farming financing schemes to benefit more than 4,000 microentrepreneurs, particularly from the low-income communities. 'AgroPintar is a holistic programme that offers not just financing and i-TEKAD grant matching. It also has essential modules on entrepreneurship and business ethics,' he said at the programme's launch. 'It places strong emphasis on financial literacy, covering areas such as financial management, credit risk control and debt management,' he said. Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah, who is also Agrobank's Chief Executive Officer, said the ultimate goal is to enhance the competitiveness and decision-making capabilities of microentrepreneurs and help them make more effective business decisions. Through structured guidance, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools to make sound financial and business decisions, ultimately improving their capacity to manage various aspects of their businesses efficiently. 'Furthermore, we will monitor the programme's impact and effectiveness six months later after the participants have joined,' he said. The programme aligns with the bank's mission to nurture resilient, forward-thinking and sustainable entrepreneurs over the long term, drive positive economic outcomes and foster social development among microentrepreneurs, he said in statement. The programme was spearheaded by the bank's centre of excellence (ACE) and microfinance division, reflecting its ongoing commitment to empowering microentrepreneurs across Malaysia. At the same event, Agrobank also launched the financial literacy video series, developed in strategic collaboration with the Financial Education Network (FEN). The 12-episode series features popular social media influencer Sir Asai. The initiative is tailored to promote financial awareness among school students using fun and accessible content. It aims to instil healthy financial habits through the 3S approach — Spend, Save and Share — and encourages the younger generation to adopt responsible money management from an early age. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store