Mentari Pendang is a unit under the Psychiatry and Mental Health Department of Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar. It was founded back in 2014. It is also located in the compound of Pendang District Health Office. The main aim of establishment is to improve the mental health services to the community level. Upon discussing about the steps of this branding, there was a person that cannot be forgotten in realising this dream. It was Dato’ Dr Ahmad Rasidi bin Saring. 

In its early establishment, it emphasises on the aspect of treatment while running a minimum rehabilition programme. In the reinforcement of the rehabilitation programme, multiple ideas and suggestion was brought forward to improve the quality of services.

During the pandemic of Covid 19, activities were forced to stop completely. Until the situation recovered in February 2021, discussion were done to run an activity that was able to give advantage to the participants to face the outside world. It resulted to an idea to operate a cafe. Mentari cafe was born. 

Various efforts were done to run and operate the Mentari cafe. It was done with sacrifices from the staff because they needed to use some of their time to learn the technique of preparing food and drinks to be taught to the participants. 

At this phase, the attendance of the participants improved until it reached the amount of 12 participants who were consistently attending from 8 in the morning until 5 in the evening. In few months, participants were able to do what needed to be done to run the cafe under the observation of the staffs. Collaborating with PERKESO, various facilities were received to make sure the smoothness of the programme. Participants were able to contribute for insurance scheme under PERKESO as a preparation for any possibilities. 

Maybe through this little sacrifices and efforts given, it was with hope for them to not be isolated from the society.