2015
We founded Kembara Kitchen - Catering in Kuala Lumpur & Selangor with the aim of creating a professional outfit in providing food aid especially for disasters. We thought we were good enough then and had the right stuff. When the earthquake hit Gunung Kinabalu, we were humbled and could only watch helplessly and just watch the news. There was nothing we could do. There had to be a better way. We tried to find new ways. It was painstaking. And it costs so much capital to come up with the better way, that we believed it could never be done by us. But always, it was in our thoughts.
2020
The pandemic hit us. And again, we thought how crucial it was that we could produce retort meals to give out during those times. But then, we still didn't have the capital nor the resources. But by then, we had an interested party willing to listen to us. CIMB Foundation. Someone who believed in us and willing to help us overcome the obstacles we faced.
2021
When the LRT crash happened on the night that the second PKP started, we were ready to deploy. I was nervous because I didn't know if it would be received well. We went on to deploy close to 190,000 meals since then.
2022
We sent the first batch of Hero Meals as trials to various organisations in Sabah 2023 We deployed a total of 5000 meals to flood areas. Thanks to Rem Dambul, CEO of IDS for being the partner that opened the doors for us in the Land Below the Wind.
October 2023, we had the official launching and handover of 10,000 meals to various agencies in both Kota Kinabalu and Semporna. It has taken 8 years to make this impossibility happen. I should be happy and say my work is done. I told YiLyn Chan that I hope God will grant me another 4 more years of life. Because that is the time I need to make it truly impactful. We embark on a dream that exceed our original dream. To let Sabah be able to produce this on their own without our intervention. I hope that within the next few years, I can see this happen for real. Then I can rest in peace. Say I did my job to the best of my ability.
I am tired, but I can see the finishing line now. Let me see this to the end is all I can hope and strive for.
Please pray for our success. And with additional believers to our cause such as PACOS Trust and YB Jannie Lasimbang I hope our journey will easier and goals achieved sooner.
----------------- *When you see the sticker for Sabah Hero Meals, you will see the outline of Gunung Akinabalu. It isn't just a symbol. It is a reminder of what pushed us on.
Full Article Link here " Penampang should be pioneer in production of retort food for disaster-stricken victims, says assemblyman "
Each Santapan Meal purchased, allows us to produce one Hero Meals to be given freely to those in need. If you would like to support our work, please purchase our meals here or contact us directly for bulk purchases. #heromeals #santapan #readytoeat
Photo Credit : NSTP/ OLIVIA MIWIL