KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) becomes the eighth public university in Malaysia to launch the ‘Students Food Bank’ initiative.
Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Chong Chieng Jen said the ‘Bank Makanan Siswa’ initiative would assist about 6,800 Unimas students from low-income families – namely the B40 group.
“Under the ministry, this programme serves to distribute edible leftover foodstuff donated by wholesalers and retailers to B40 students,” Chong told reporters right after the programme’s launch at the university Friday.
Chong signs a plaque to mark the launch of Unimas Students Food Bank, as (from left) Wan Hashim, Tan and Rostam look on.
The ministry’s deputy secretary-general (consumerism and management) Datuk Rostam Affendi Salleh, the ministry’s director for Sarawak Datuk Stanley Tan and Unimas vice-chancellor (education and innovation) Prof Wan Hashim Wan Ibrahim were also present.
He said the B40 students were the main target for the programme, in view of reports about many of them able to afford eating only once a day during their studying years prior to the food bank programme.
“Right after we received word about this, the programme was quickly initiated last February.”
Chong then said the ministry had suggested that the food bank programme be run in other public universities as well.
“Gerakan Pengguna Siswa (GPS) and Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar (MPP) are our strategic partners in terms of managing the food bank programme here.
“At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude to the retailers who have rendered solid support for the programme.”
Chong, who is Stampin MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman, also said his ministry had further discussions with other large retailers and wholesalers regarding to donation of excess foodstuff under the food bank programme in Unimas.
According to him, the students’ food bank was an initiative under the Food Bank Programme launched last December.
“So far, we have distributed 1,000 tonnes of foodstuff to 111,000 members of B40 families.”
Chong said the programme would continue to be run at other public universities across the country, to aid those in need.
It is reported that 200 Unimas students are eligible for the ‘Bank Makanan Siswa’ programme, which has CS Mini Mart donating the foodstuff.