Owned by the Terengganu state government, the four-star island resort in Pulau Duyong opened its budget meal stall near the Sultan Mahmud bridge here on Thursday (Feb 3).

As drastic times call for drastic measures, DMR general manager Wan Mohd Faizul Wan Abas said the opening of the stall was a proactive measure taken by the resort so as not to rely on room sales, which have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"During the current situation, we saw too many hotels and resorts had to close shop as they could not survive the economic downturn. We do not want the same fate to befall DMR," he told reporters today.

He said the opening of the stall was an attempt to boost staff morale as well as to prove to them that the management would make every effort to tide them over during the current economic crisis and work together with the employees to ensure the resort's survival.

Offering different set menus every day, among the dishes sold at the stall are spiced fried chicken, fried fish, 'gulai lemak ikan masin' with pineapple, stir-fry vegetables, and sambal (chili paste) with eggs.

According to Wan Mohd Faizul, the stall also allows people from the B40 segment who are retrenched and whose income is affected by the pandemic to enjoy delicious and nutritious food for only RM3 per meal.

"DMR also welcomes any corporate bodies, non-governmental organisations as well as individuals who wish to contribute this budget meal to any parties such as the frontliners as an appreciation of their hard work," he added.

A Bernama check found that customers had started to queue as early as 11 am at the stall while complying with strict standard operating procedures (SOP), monitored by the resort's security personnel.

Wan Mohd Faizul said the setting up of the stall was not DMR's main and only strategy to generate income adding that the resort was also offering a buy one, get free one package of its rooms which is ongoing until Feb 18.

"The income from this budget rice stall is not even 10 per cent for DMR," he said, adding that the stall would not be permanent and would only last until the tourism industry recovers.

Offering 13 royal chalets, four executive suites, two duplexes, and 52 deluxe rooms, the island resort was officiated by former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2005 and is closely associated with the country's international yachting regatta, the Monsoon Cup.

-- BERNAMA