Ramadan is for worship, not wastefulness
KUALA LUMPUR: May 17 has been declared the first day of Ramadan, and it is a holy day that is much anticipated by Muslims in Malaysia.
With the beginning of the fasting month also comes numerous reminders for Muslims to become wary of their thoughts and actions so that it does not diminish the reward that comes with the act of worship.
Ramadan is a month of worship. In addition to adhering to their obligatory prayers, it is also recommended for Muslims to engage in acts of kindness and generosity such as giving alms and abstaining from bad habits.
Something that Muslims are reminded of time and again is that Ramadan is not a time for extravagance, what more to incur debts or be wasteful, especially where food is concerned.
However, it is sad to note that there are those among Muslims who continue to spend lavishly and even take on loans just to prepare for Hari Raya. Food wastage is also rampant during Ramadan.
The Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) once conducted a survey that revealed Malaysians throwing away 17,800 tonnes of food every single day.
The same study also revealed that every year, during Ramadan, a total of 270,000 tonnes of food go straight to the dustbin. That is untouched food we are talking about.
Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye when quoted on the finding said: “If the food was placed in a single pile, it would stand as tall as 30 KLCC buildings!”
The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has also conducted an analysis of the garbage disposed in the city and found that out of the 3,000 tonnes of rubbish discarded daily, 80 percent were household food waste.
What is worse, 40 percent of the food waste were still unspoiled and edible. This is heartbreaking to know as there are many Malaysians out there who have barely enough to eat or are even starving.
Although the DBKL study was conducted outside of Ramadan, it was still evidence of the flagrant wastage of food in the city. Cognisant of this problem, a campaign called MYSaveFood@ Ramadan was held in the Ramadan of 2017. Perhaps there is a need to hold this campaign outside of Ramadan as well.
The government and NGOs need
I would usually plan together with my kids which childfriendly mosque we could go to for tarawih and make an evening of it. — Ina, mother of two
to organise more programmes to encourage frugality in spending and curb wasteful behaviour.
Such programmes can be introduced at the school level and in higher institutes of education. In addition to inculcating the habit of saving, the effort will also teach the younger generation to appreciate the value of the money given to them by their parents.
Ramadan in Malaysia can be marked by the appearance of numerous Ramadan bazaars and markets selling food for ‘buka puasa’ (breaking fast). Many traders take the opportunity to earn extra income, with some even taking the whole month off work to focus on various Ramadan-related side businesses.
Selling food in Ramadan can be quite a lucrative endeavour as that is why such businesses can be seen springing up like mushrooms after the rain during the month. What is of concern, however, is that the zeal for profit will cause quality and the halal status of raw ingredients to take a back seat.
It is at Ramadan bazaars that many often find themselves indulge in wasteful spending. The sheer number of stalls, the array of food on display, the enticing smell of fried, grilled and roasted food are enough to make hungry consumers succumb to their desires.
Those who came with the intention to buy only one or two dishes would often end up walking back to their cars carrying plastic bags filled to the brim with food and drinks.
Fasting tends to make the stomach shrink, so many people will not be able to even eat half of what they bought. Other reasons that buka puasa food often go to waste are that some of the food does not taste good or have already spoiled.
Ramadan bazaars are still popular, however, as many do not have the luxury of time to prepare for their buka puasa. This is especially true for working couples. Yet there are others who prefer to prepare their own buka puasa meals.
“There is no need to buy food from outside as we will end up eating just a little bit anyway. It is better to prepare our own meals.
“I am not very keen on the quality of the food sold at Ramadan bazaars. I once had a stomachache from the food bought there,” said my colleague Ina, mother of two boys aged six and nine years old. Ina would usually break her fast with dates and rice.
She was more excited over the prospect of teaching her sons the spirit of Ramadan and bringing them for tarawih prayers.
“I would usually plan together with my kids which child-friendly mosque we could go to for tarawih and make an evening of it,” she said.
Let us make this Ramadan one of repentance and gratitude. Be more frugal in our spending and subscribe to zero wastage for all aspects of our lives. Ramadan is a time to increase our good deeds, not the other way around. Waste not, want not.
(This commentary is the personal opinion of the writer and does not necessarily reflect Bernama or thesundaypost’s stand or views)