KUALA LUMPUR: One school canteen in Kedah has definitely upped its game by offering students and teachers a dining experience like no other, all for less than RM2 per serving.
Photos of the canteen at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Taman Seri Wang in Sungai Petani recently went viral with netizens likening it to a hotel restaurant.
The canteen operator, Mohd Fahmi Ahmad, 36, told Harian Metro that he and his wife Nadirah Azizan, 36 have been revamping the place since they took over operations in December, last year.
Fahmi, who has more than a decade of experience as a canteen operator, said he drew inspiration from hotels and high-end restaurants in setting up the canteen.
“I wanted to come up with something unique that will create a different atmosphere and mood for the teachers and students to eat comfortably,” he was quoted as saying.
According to the World of Buzz, Fahmi had forked out RM50,000 out of his savings to renovate and transform the canteen to imitate a hotel setting.
China Press reported that the canteen provides about eight different dishes each day and they each cost no more than RM2, while drinks range between 50 sen and RM1.
“In addition to the comfortable and beautiful setting, I also work on the menu, offering students and teachers a variety of dishes to choose from,” he told China Press, adding that the transformation has drawn both students and teachers to eat at the school cafeteria.
He said now only about two per cent of students and teachers bring their own food to school as many enjoy eating and hanging out at the canteen.
Among the food sold are chicken rice, soup noodles, as well as western dishes such as pasta and pizza.
Besides the décor and furnishings, what caught the public’s attention was the spread of buffet for teachers.
Fahmi said the canteen has even attracted teachers from other schools and officers from the district education office.
He owns two other school canteens at SK Pauh Jaya, Penang and SMK Aman Jaya, Sungai Petani. Last year, his canteen in Penang won an award from the Education Ministry and Health Ministry for the best canteen at the national level.
Following this, netizens hope school canteen operators nationwide would emulate Fahmi’s move.