1MDB completes development of 19 RMT canteens in Sarawak

KUCHING: Nineteen school canteens have been completely developed by the 1Malaysia Development Board (1MDB) Foundation as at this month under the Additional Food Plan (RMT) Canteen Project in Sarawak.

The RM9 million project is funded by Sime Darby Foundation, with cooperation from Sarawak Education Department.

1MDB vice-president (Corporate Social Responsibility) Azura Aini Annuar said the RMT Canteen Project was an initiative to replace old and dilapidated canteen infrastructure at 48 selected schools in Sarawak.

“The construction of the 19 canteens in Zone 1 began in March and has been fully completed on Aug 5. For Zone 2, the construction is expected to be completed by end of next month.

“The project will benefit 17,000 students in the 48 selected schools, 19 of which in Zone 1 (Kuching, Simunjan and Padawan) and 29 others in Zone 2 (Miri, Kapit, Kanowit and Lubok Antu),” she told reporters after visiting the canteens of Sekolah Kebangsaan Pajar Sejingkat and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Chung Hwa Buntal here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Sekolah Kebangsaan Pajar Sejingkat headmaster, Mansor Hassan, said since the canteen was completed in early July, the recess time and environment for the RMT recipients had changed.

“The old canteen area was smaller, usually congested and looked poorly managed. After taking their RMT meals, the recipients will just sit along the corridors and when it rains, they will end up eating in the open hall,” he said, adding that the school had 228 RMT recipients.

For a Year Six pupil, Hafizul Rahman Mohd Azam Shah said the RMT recipients used to eat in smaller groups, but with the new canteen in place, they could now enjoy a better dining environment.

“Now, we can all take a seat and wait for every single one of the RMT recipients to settle down before reciting the prayer and eat our meals.” — Bernama