This initiative ensures unsold bread, fruits and vegetables don’t go to waste and are handed out to the poor and deserving.
It will see supermarkets, hotels and restaurants playing a voluntary role in providing unsold food to the underprivileged and those in the B40 group.
Those in the B40 category are households earning less than RM3,900 monthly.
The domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry has set stringent standard operating procedures in vetting the quality of the food handed out, Mahathir said at the launching of the national-level food bank here today.
His speech was read out by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Mahathir said Malaysia produces 15,000 tonnes of surplus food daily. Of that amount, 3,000 tonnes are still safe to eat.
The prime minister said although such food surpluses are seen as “remeh” (inconsequential), it could have a huge impact on the less fortunate.
“Food such as bread or other bakery items, fruits and vegetables will reduce the cost of living of the recipients.
“We are going to focus on the B40 income group and those deserving so that they receive their food aid. This will allow them to have more disposable income for other matters, such as education and health,” Mahathir said.
He said the initiative will also reduce food wastage and increase the smart partnership between the government and private sector.
Mahathir said those immediately eligible under this food programme were the hardcore poor, numbering 186,534. Others eligible include registered welfare bodies.
Mahathir said a Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia will be formed to ensure all unsold and leftover food items are handed out in a more systematic manner. This foundation will be led by those experienced in the field.
Mahathir said the food bank will not have any big financial implications on the government as it was a form of crowdsourcing.
Lim officiated the food bank at the Caring Society Complex on Scotland Road here. Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Penang Deputy Chief Minister I Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman were among those present.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation, one-third (1.3 billion tonnes) of food, worth RM4.4 trillion, are wasted or lost every year.
The World Economic Forum noted that last year, 850 million people in the world lacked food and nutrition, compounded by the effects of increased cost of producing food and lack of access to nutritional food.