“Food is art, and food is love. And we should show love and appreciation for those who cook it by eating it with relish.”
– Mark Bittman, American author
I’M quite familiar with the Pandan Indah area in Kuala Lumpur and I believe locating Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli’s first Kesum outlet is not a problem.
The next time I’m in the neighbourhood, the Kesum Restaurant is one place on my “Must Visit” list. Of course, I’m also eager to savour the affordable RM5 meal.
Kesum also carries that clever acronymic meaning: K – Kenyang (Filling), S – Sedap (Tasty), M – Murah (Affordable).
As per its advertisement, Kesum is located at 25, Jalan Pandan Indah 1/20, Pandan Indah, Kuala Lumpur. Breakfast, lunch and dinner meals are all going for below RM5. Pandan Indah is a busy residential/business enclave in Pandan, Rafizi’s parliamentary constituency.
I write this piece in support of the former Economy Minister’s latest people’s project. If this was a normal business venture, the aim of which is solely a healthy profit margin, I would not venture to make use of this space in the Sarawak Tribune to promote Kesum.
But Kesum was set up with the interests of the people in mind as part of Rafizi’s broader social-enterprise platform (Ayuh Malaysia) that pairs affordable retail with social goals. The objective is to produce social impact while being sustainable.
I commend the idea and the social business concept. Profit not being the main motivator is a noble idea and should be supported wholeheartedly by all.
I’m very happy that so early in its birth, this new social enterprise restaurant in Kuala Lumpur is making Malaysians look twice at what a fair meal should really cost.
At Kesum’s opening on Nov 8, when asked by a reporter whether it was really possible to eat well for RM5 or below, Rafizi was quick to respond, “Yes, with Kesum”.
Seriously, I believe I’ve resided in Kuala Lumpur long enough to know what are the meals which give value for money and the various locations of the food outlets in the nation’s capital with such offerings.
Honest, it’s quite difficult to get a “decent” meal for RM5 and below – add in a drink and that will make it impossible. Here, we are not talking about dining in a restaurant, just an ordinary kopitiam or a food court.
If I have to qualify what a decent meal is, it is one that typically includes a fair portion of staple food, protein and vegetables, able to satisfy hunger and support good health.
That is why I like Rafizi’s super confidence in all his pet projects – so, RM5 for a decent meal it is and he has opened his first Kesum outlet. Well, Rafizi seems to do well when his projects are planned with the people in mind.
Someone wrote somewhere that “Rafizi’s confidence isn’t the arrogance of a politician chasing headlines; it’s the calm assurance of a data-driven planner who believes in systems that work for people”. I couldn’t agree more.
I’ve also noted that Rafizi is a trained engineer and accountant and that probably explains his analytical mindset. When he explains an idea whether it’s Kesum, Invoke, or the Ayuh Malaysia movement, he breaks it down to logic, cost, structure and long-term impact.
He doesn’t merely say “we’ll help the people”; he shows how it can be done step by step, and that gives his confidence real credibility. And this is the right way to get things done.
Every reform-minded leader attracts critics, especially when their ideas are bold and unconventional. In Rafizi Ramli’s case, some see Kesum as a public relations exercise – a way to polish his image as a “people’s hero”.
But even if that perception exists, it doesn’t necessarily invalidate the value of the initiative. The truth is, in politics, motives are often mixed – what matters more is impact, not speculation.
If Kesum can genuinely deliver affordable, quality meals to Malaysians struggling with high living costs, then it stands on its own merit, regardless of political spin.
The same applies if it helps young entrepreneurs gain a foothold in business or sparks a movement toward fairer pricing and community-focused enterprise.
At the end of the day, what people care about are results they can feel – a cheaper meal, a job created, or a local business supported. That’s tangible change, not empty rhetoric.
Let the critics talk all they want. You and I have seen far too many politicians who promise much and deliver little.
Here, if Rafizi’s projects actually benefit ordinary Malaysians in practical ways, his reputation will take care of itself.
We, the more sensible Malaysians and there are many of us, can easily distinguish between political theatre and genuine effort.
We wish Rafizi well and hope that Kesum will be a great success.
● Francis Paul Siah is a veteran Sarawak editor and currently heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of Sarawak Tribune.
