Food Bank Malaysia helped 45,850 households, says DPM
KUALA LUMPUR: The Food Bank Malaysia programme has proven to be a success.
Records showed that 45,850 households benefited from the pioneer programme, which was launched in Penang last year, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
She said it was an initiative to help the poor cope with the rising cost of living, as well as to reduce food wastage.
Dr Wan Azizah said based on Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry figures, between August last year and February this year, 1,055 metric tonnes of food were saved through the programme.
“I am overwhelmed with the response. The programme was introduced by the ministry in Penang in August and was launched by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng in December.
“The food surplus, though it may seem trivial, has had a major impact on those in need and this reduces food waste.”
Dr Wan Azizah, who is Pandan member of parliament, said this at the launch of the Pandan Food Bank Malaysia here yesterday.
Present were Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and former Pandan member of parliament Rafizi Ramli.
Pandan Food Bank Malaysia has 200 registered aid recipients in the parliamentary constituency.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is women, family and community development minister, said following the success of the programme in Penang, it had been expanded to Kelantan, Melaka, Johor, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Negri Sembilan.
She said in implementing the programme, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry had linked up with supermarkets, food product producers, restaurants and hotels.
“This was undertaken in cooperation with ministry’s strategic partners, made up of organisations, such as Mutiara Food Bank Malaysia, Food Aid Foundation and Kechara Soup Kitchen to channel aid to targeted groups.
“This is not going to be a oneoff or an ad hoc programme that happens once or occasionally, but is a continuous effort to help the hardcore poor cope with the rising cost of living.”
She said the programme in Pandan would be managed by the ministry’s strategic Partner, Kechara Soup Kitchen, with the help of non-governmental organisation Voice of Pandan.
“These NGOs will collect groceries from hypermarkets and supermarkets involved in the programme — such as Tesco, Econsave, The Store, NSK and SEGI — and distribute them once a week to the targeted group in the area.”
She said the programme was recently expanded to public universities.
“The National Living Action Council Meeting came up with the decision on Feb 15, after complaints emerged that students could not afford to have more than one full meal a day, due to increasing expenses.”