PRIVATE SECTOR URGED TO ‘FEED’ FOOD BANK
Programme helps poor to get food while reducing wastage, supermarket costs
THE government wants more supermarkets, retail outlets and hotels in the country to join the Malaysian Food Bank programme to help feed needy people.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the programme was being implemented in two phases, beginning with a pilot project from August to December.
“The second phase, which will cover the whole country, is expected to begin in January,” she said at the launch of the statelevel Food Bank Malaysia Programme Pioneer Project here yesterday.
Present was Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
She said the goal was to tackle food wastage and reduce the operating cost of supermarkets.
“The government is very concerned about reducing the people’s cost of living, especially those below the poverty level.
“This group must be given assistance in obtaining food supplies as it would lighten their burden and help them save so their money may be used for important things,” she said.
The target group of this programme were households with a monthly income of less than RM930.
“According to information from eKasih, there are 186,394 heads of household living below the poverty level in the country,” she said.
Dr Wan Azizah visited the flood-emergency supply centre in Kemumin, Pengkalan Chepa, yesterday.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is the National Flood Disaster Management chairman, spent 30 minutes reviewing the Welfare Department’s flood preparedness.
With her were department director-general Mohd Fazari Mohd Salleh, department welfare division director Samsuzuli Che Noh, and state welfare director Said Sidup.
Earlier, Dr Wan Azizah, who is women, family and community development minister, met representatives of non-governmental organisations at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kubang Kerian. They discussed preparations for the monsoon season in the state.
She is scheduled to attend a meeting on east coast flood preparations at Kompleks Kota Darulnaim.
Fazari said food items had been prepared, such as milk, rice and biscuits.
He said the food supply was enough to cater to around 13,000 flood victims for between three and five days
“Leave for 341 Welfare Department staff has not yet been frozen, but this may change,” he said.
Fazari said some of the food supplies had been shipped to mini depots in all districts.