MELAKA:After Penang and Terengganu, it is now the turn of a five-star hotel in Melaka to offer 'nasi bajet' (budget rice) at only RM2, as part of their efforts to stay afloat while the tourism sector is still closed due to the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Hatten Hotel head chef Badrol Hisham Mohd Ali said that the move was taken as there were no customers staying at the hotel and the restaurant was still closed.

"Apart from generating hotel revenue affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the sale of budget rice is also expected to give some joy to the people whose income is adversely affected, to get a meal at a cheaper price.

"We started selling this budget rice on Friday and the response received has been very encouraging when about 500 people visited the stalls daily," he told Bernama here today.

Badrol Hisham also said that among the dishes prepared for this budget rice is white rice served either with a piece of chicken or fish as well as some vegetables.

"There are also other side dishes such as 'ayam madu', 'ayam percik', cakes and cookies, but they are sold separately.

"We offer a different menu daily so that customers can enjoy different dishes and never get tired of the same side dishes every day," he said, adding that the sale starts at 12 noon until 8 pm daily.

He said that for now, the budget rice will be sold daily for a month, and the hotel will decide on the next course of action based on the current developments of the MCO.

Meanwhile, a customer who wanted to be known only as Azlin, 22, said she was very happy with the budget rice option because she only worked as a salesgirl at a healthcare shop near the hotel.

"Since Banda Hilir is a public focus area, most eateries sell food at a slightly expensive price, therefore this budget rice helps me get a nice meal at a cheaper price.

"Even though I had to queue for about 30 minutes, I think it is well worth the price offered," she said.

-- BERNAMA