Ampang MP turns to RM10 asam pedas after constituency allocation frozen
Rodziah Ismail is selling her mother's asam pedas recipe at RM10 a pack to raise RM300,000 for constituents whose aid applications remain unfunded.
The smell of Melaka-style asam pedas filled the back of the Ampang parliamentary service centre this morning, with MP Rodziah Ismail standing over a large pot, stirring and directing her helpers.
Rodziah has turned asam pedas seller after claiming her service centre is no longer allowed to access MyKhas, the system used to manage constituency development allocations. Each pack sells for RM10, with proceeds channelled back to needy residents of Ampang.
"If Khairul Aming has Rembayung, we have Rembawang," she joked, referring to her Rembawang home base.
About 500 packs were targeted on the first day. She admitted cooking at that scale was far removed from her home routine.
"I'm not a chef. I cook for my family. Usually for at most 30, 40 people. Today we're making hundreds," she said. Rodziah has been linked to PKR splinter party Parti Bersama Malaysia, founded by Rafizi Ramli, a former key figure in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's camp.
Her mother's recipe
The dish is a family recipe passed down from her mother, which drew attention when she prepared it at korban programmes across nearly four terms as an elected representative.
"That's when I felt many liked it and many praised it, 'YB, this asam pedas is delicious'," she told Malaysiakini.
Chillies, onions and fish were bought, while vegetables such as cucumber and cabbage, along with rice, came from donors or at reduced prices.
"When costs are low, I'll have more left over to give to the people," she said.
One order stood out: a buyer took 100 packs at once but asked that they be donated to the Ampang Health Clinic. Sales and early orders had reached about RM5,000 at that point.
RM300,000 target
The sale is the first sub-project of Projek Amal Rakyat, launched in response to the freezing of her constituency allocation effective 29 July.
According to her media statement, the service centre has some RM300,000 worth of aid applications still awaiting funds — RM40,000 for health and medical needs, RM60,000 for education, RM50,000 for welfare and RM150,000 for socioeconomic and community programmes. The project aims to raise that within two to three months.
Previously, she said, the service centre received about RM400,000 every three months.
"But if I don't get that amount, we'll adjust. What matters is that we understand those who come here urgently need financial help," she said.
This article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI), in accordance with our editorial policy.