PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry will monitor the preparation of free breakfast food for pupils set to begin in January.
The programme is an initiative by the Education Ministry.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said the move to monitor the preparation was important to ensure that the food was safe for consumption and contained the right nutrition.
“The Health Ministry will determine two aspects. One is food safety and the other, the nutrition and dietary requirements of the food,” he said at a press conference after the Health Ministry’s monthly assembly here yesterday.
On Monday, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik announced that about 2.7 million pupils would receive free breakfast beginning January next year.
He said the initiative was to ensure pupils were healthy, giving them the ability to focus on their studies.
Dr Dzulkefly said his ministry would monitor the programme and the way the food was served, similar to what it did during the 1Malaysia milk campaign organised by the previous government.
On a separate matter, he said, the ministry had administered measles vaccination on all Orang Asli children in Kuala Koh, Gua Musang, Kelantan.
“In Kuala Koh, we can say that 100 per cent of the Orang Asli children have been vaccinated.
“The Orang Asli are nomads and we have given them health education. They will come to our health facility in their area when they fall sick.”
Dr Dzulkefly said any ministry staff found smoking in public places would be reprimanded.
“I have taken the approach of educating smokers instead of punitive action or forcing them to quit so that if they are unable to quit, they should respect the law and not smoke in public places.
“The punishment against civil servants found smoking in public places will be the same as that against members of the public.
“In fact, they can be hauled up by the Ethics Committee,” he said, adding that they could face action under the committee.