MIRI: Mercure Miri City Centre has launched its flagship Ramadan programme for this year, positioning its annual buffet not only as a culinary offering but as a community-led platform for charity, sustainability and local enterprise.
Branded ‘Malam Cahaya Kasih Ramadhan Buffet 2026’, the programme was unveiled at a high-profile launch that drew guests from across the city’s social and business spectrum.
This year’s edition marks a strategic shift, reframing the traditional Ramadan buffet as a mechanism for measurable social impact.
At the centre of the initiative is a partnership between Mercure Miri City Centre and Tabung Kebajikan Perubatan Malaysia (TKPM), the medical welfare fund administered through Hospital Miri.
The collaboration seeks to address what the hotel says is a persistent lack of public awareness about TKPM, despite its role in supporting patients, particularly children, who require financial assistance for medical treatment.
“For us, Ramadan must go beyond hospitality,” said the hotel’s General Manager, Shan Ravendran.
“We wanted the impact to be local and meaningful. Working with TKPM allows us to channel support directly within Miri.
“During our early discussions with the Hospital Miri branch, it became clear that awareness of the fund remains low. This partnership is about closing that gap and ensuring children in need are not left behind because of financial constraints.”
Under the programme, RM15 from every RM145 buffet ticket sold will be donated directly to TKPM. Guests are also encouraged to make additional voluntary contributions.
Sustainability forms the second pillar of the initiative.
The hotel’s sustainability team has produced kampung surau-inspired donation boxes crafted entirely from recycled cardboard and used cooking oil barrels sourced within the property.
Beyond their functional role, the boxes are intended as visual statements on upcycling and responsible resource use within the hospitality sector.
The hotel said the initiative demonstrates how operational waste can be repurposed creatively, reducing environmental impact while supporting social welfare.
Beyond dining and donations, Malam Cahaya Kasih extends into economic empowerment through a curated Heritage and Flea Market hosted at the hotel’s Merbau co-working space.
The market provides a fundraising and commercial platform for community groups, social organisations and small local businesses, reinforcing the programme’s community-first narrative.
Participating vendors include the Association of Single Mothers Sarawak (Miri Branch), the Sarawak Sports Deaf Association, the Sarawak Society for the Blind, and Noah’s Ark representing the Penan community. Health service providers Klinik Nur Sejahtera and Borneo Medical Centre (Miri) are also involved, alongside local food and craft names such as Busak and Lapis Sarawak by Rizal, Tengayet, Satay Ani and Nageena.
The Heritage and Flea Market will be open to the public daily until March 18 between 6pm and 9pm.
Mercure Miri City Centre said the integrated approach reflects a deliberate effort to reposition Ramadan programming as a catalyst for inclusive growth, social responsibility and environmental awareness, rather than a purely seasonal dining event.
