Find ways to reduce food wastage, says Wan Junaidi
KUCHING: There should be a new approach to prevent continuous food wastage, especially during Ramadan, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
He said about 50% of the buffet spread at hotels were thrown away (after the breaking-of-fast) although the patrons had paid a high price for the buffet.
“There should be a new approach and rule to reduce such wastage, for example, untouched leftover food from the buffet can be given away to those in need instead of discarding it,” reported Bernama.
Wan Junaidi was commenting on the suggestion by social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye that the government hold awareness programmes to curb food wastage.
Lee said studies conducted by Solid Waste Management and Urban Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) showed that Malaysians wasted about 17,800 tonnes of food daily.
Earlier, Wan Junaidi, who is also Santubong member of parliament, handed out Ramadan welfare aid to 810 recipients, including the elderly, orphans and the disabled from the Seberang Hilir and Santubong zones.
Meanwhile, in Petaling Jaya, consumers have been urged to change their eating habits to avoid wastage and keep their health in check during the fasting month.
“We have made repeated calls to the public but they are not heeded. If their buying and eating habits do not change immediately, it will affect them in the long term.
“Their habits and lifestyle must start at home, or at best, being aware as to how much is being spent,” said Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) head activist Datuk Nadzim Johan yesterday when asked to comment on the preparations made for Ramadan.
He also noted although prices of food sold at Ramadan bazaars generally were high, the public must be prudent when purchasing.
“It does not make any difference, generally speaking, whether the food prices are high or low as consumers will still buy them (because of unchanged habits). This is one of the main problems which they need to address. Instead of following the flow, one should be a smart consumer and find an alternative,” he said.
He said PPIM has identified two areas in the Klang Valley where 1kg cooking oil were not made available.
“The areas are Kota Damansara and Sungai. Buloh. We do not know why this is occurring, but the distributors need to resolve the issue. We will collect more information and present it to the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry soon,” he added.