RMHC Sets Up 35th Ronald McDonald Sensory Room For Special Needs Children In Tampin

The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) has set up another Ronald McDonald Sensory Room (RMSR) at McDonald's outlet in Tampin for special children, especially from poor families.

ONE of the more unique McDonald's outlets in Malaysia is located in Tampin, Negeri Sembilan. The restaurant is the first to boast a distinctive design influenced by traditional Negeri Sembilan houses, which often feature long roofs. 

Did you know? Before it was a McDonald’s restaurant, the building used to be the Tampin Rest House. In addition to its remarkable architecture, what makes this McDonald's restaurant special is that now it has a sensory room, known as the Ronald McDonald - Yayasan Jaafar Ahmad Sensory Room.

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) has been funding Ronald McDonald Sensory Rooms across the country since 1999. Partnering with many educational centers for special needs children, these sensory rooms are designed specifically for children with special needs, particularly those in the B40 group, to help them develop cognitive skills and build self-confidence.

The rooms fitted with multi-sensory equipment are to stimulate the primary senses of sight, sound, touch, and smell, in an atmosphere of trust, relaxation, and fun so as to maximize the children’s response.

McDonald’s Malaysia Managing Director and Local Operating Partner Dato' Azmir Jaafar said to date, RMHC has built 35 sensory rooms across Malaysia at the cost of more than RM4 million and currently boasts the largest network of sensory rooms in the country. This benefits more than 7,000 children, including those in Sabah and Sarawak.

“The rooms are operated by appointed professional therapists. God willing, if there is a need in other states or districts in Negeri Sembilan we will expand it further,” he told reporters during the launching of the McDonald's drive-through Restaurant by Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan Dato' Seri Aminuddin Harun here today.

Since its debut at the end of 2020, the McDonald's Tampin outlet has amassed impressive sales, a figure to be proud of for such a young establishment. The restaurant is the 15th to open in Negeri Sembilan, and its strategic location near the Melaka-Negeri Sembilan state border makes it convenient for customers from all around the state. 

At the restaurant's official opening ceremony on March 8, Dato' Azmir Jaafar, Managing Director and Local Operating Partner of McDonald's Malaysia, said that he hopes the outlet will contribute to the state's socio-economic development and provide employment opportunities for the local community.

"The opening of McDonald's Tampin Restaurant is in line with McDonald's Malaysia's development plan as a result of the business' improved performance," Azmir continued.

"It will contribute to the socio-economic development of Negeri Sembilan as well as employment opportunities for the local community which, in turn, can improve their standard of living."

Dato' Seri Haji Aminuddin bin Harun, Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, presided over the opening ceremony on March 8. 

"I am very proud of the opening of this new McDonald's restaurant as it is part of the government's efforts to improve the socio-economy and move towards the transformation of Negeri Sembilan as a developing state, " he said.

McDonald's Malaysia also handed over RM180,000 in corporate zakat payments to the Negeri Sembilan Islamic Religious Council (MAINs) to be disbursed to asnaf beneficiaries and the underserved in Negeri Sembilan at the same ceremony.