KUALA LUMPUR: The government's first distribution centre for the Food Bank programme in Bukit Angkat, Kajang Selangor is expected to be operational in early February, 2020.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said a major change coming this year with the new distribution centre available to continuously collect food from source and keep them before heading to designated areas for distribution.
Saifuddin has also requested for the distribution centre to be made ready 'as soon as possible'.
"Since the programme was initiated two years ago, it has benefited more than 476,250 households living below poverty lines nationwide and the number of resources from donors has been increased from time to time.
"Thus, this is vital, as when we receive goods from donors, we need to sort them out in a disciplined manner. With our new distribution centre, we will be more organised in our preparation,” he said after the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia and Nestle (Malaysia) Bhd here today.
He said his ministry will be targeting to set up the Food Bank programme in 123 higher education institutions, teacher's training institutions and polytechnics for this year.
"As of now, we have about 12,251 students benefited from the Food Siswa Programme and we hope the numbers will increase this year,” he added.
Nestle joined hands today with Yayasan Food Bank Malaysia to provide Nestle food products to more than 50,000 B40 families and the poor community across Malaysia.
During the two years partnership, Nestle products including MILO, NESCAFE and Nestle Breakfast Cereals will be collected and channelled through the programme for distribution to lower income households, poor communities, welfare homes as well as to underprivileged university students through this partnership.
Saifuddin said his ministry is pleased to collaborate with Nestle Malaysia to ensure that the food bank programme continues to meet the needs of B40 families and poor communities while reducing food waste in the process.
Nestle (Malaysia) chief executive officer Juan Aranols said through the programme, Nestle will contribute surplus nutritious, high quality products with the aim to nourishing more than 50,000 Malaysian families and youths every year living below the poverty line.
“As the largest food and beverages manufacturer worldwide, we have expertise, size and scale that can be channelled towards effective solutions, such as Food Bank Malaysia Programme.
"We firmly believe in the power of multi-stakeholders partnership to implement viable and sustainable programmes that effectively address the challenges of our B40 communities. Thus, we look forward to working closely with the Ministry Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs on this programme,” Aranols said.
Ends.