SHAH ALAM, May 31 — A hundred free meal vouchers were snapped up in just 10 minutes when the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) launched its community food programme for the year, prompting the council to consider expanding the initiative.

A total of 300 vouchers worth RM10 each were prepared for the session at Medan Selera Seksyen 28, with an allocation of RM3,000, The Star reported today.

“For this programme, the allocation is RM3,000.

“If the location is suitable and demand is high, we may increase the number from 300 to a higher figure,” deputy mayor Safriah Md Adzhar was quoted as saying after launching the programme designed to ease the cost of living for low-income groups while supporting traders at MBSA-managed food courts.

The target recipients include university students, factory workers and residents from lower-income communities.

Each person receives one RM10 voucher, which can be used at any of the six participating food and drink stalls.

Orders exceeding RM10 require the recipient to pay only the difference.

MBSA reimburses traders based on the number of vouchers collected.

Recipients were required to register before receiving their vouchers, said MBSA Zone 10 councillor Wan Shaharuddin Shah Ismail.

MBSA deputy secretary (management) Shahrin Ahmad said the council previously held similar programmes three times a year and plans to maintain that frequency in 2026.

“Next, we will look at locations in the central and northern areas,” he was quoted as saying.

He added that MBSA usually selected locations based on population density, proximity to industrial areas and the presence of student communities.

Section 28 was chosen for this round because of its proximity to factories and low-cost flats.