Lee urges schools to emphasise healthy living too

MIRI: Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin called on schools to emphasise healthy living such as taking healthy and nutritious foods besides academic and cocurriculum.

“We all know that young children like to take junk or fast food especially those that are sweet and tasty but are not good for health. In this context, the school should monitor what is sold in the canteen. Make sure that the food and drinks are healthy and nutritious. They must be also clean and hygienic,” Lee said when opening SJK(C) Chung Hua Tudan new canteen yesterday.

He said it is important to inculcate healthy living and lifestyle at a young age so that children will continue with the habit when they grow up.

Lee also reminded that the food and drinks must be affordable.

“The new canteen, costing RM105,600, was completed within a month.

“The old canteen was found not to be safe with cracks and sunken floor. The school board decided to demolish and rebuild it,” said Lee.

Meanwhile, Lee said the school is a reflection of a multi- racial society as 71 per cent of the 1,324 pupils are non- Chinese. “There were 64 Chinese from 259 enrolments for Year One this year. The school have pupils from eight racial and ethnic groups including Penan and Indian.

To cater for Muslim pupils, two of five stalls in the canteen are selling ‘halal’ food.

Also present was the school headmaster Law Sie Kong.