JOHOR BARU, Feb 6 — The Higher Education Ministry has recommended that all private higher education institutions (IPTS) implement the Menu Rahmah initiative.

Its minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the proposal was among several recommendations to help ease the burden of targeted groups, including students from B40 families.

"We hope that good things like this (Menu Rahmah) will also be welcomed by the IPTS.

"When this initiative was introduced by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, we (the Higher Education Ministry) wanted to make sure that the respective universities would accommodate its implementation,” he said during a press conference after visiting Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) in Skudai here today.

Menu Rahmah is a set meal with a fixed price of RM5 to ensure the underprivileged get a balanced meal. The initiative was launched by the government on February 1.

Present during the visit were Johor Education, Information and Communication Committee chairman Norliza Noh and UTM vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Ismail.

Yesterday, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub was reported as saying that Menu Rahmah will be offered at 20 cafes in public institutions of higher education within the Klang Valley after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

He said the initiative will be expanded to other states nationwide.

Last Friday, Mohammed Khaled was reported as saying that the ministry will implement the Menu Rahmah initiative at institutions of higher learning and is working with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry for its rollout.