Pahang KPDN Collects Over 3,400 Kg Of Food Surplus Through i-FB

KUANTAN, March 16 (Bernama) -- The Pahang branch of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) collected more than 3,400 kilogrammes (kg) of various types of surplus food, worth nearly RM45,000, through the implementation of the Ihsan Food Bank (i-FB).

Its director, Jezlily Jamaluddin, said the food obtained from the selected Ramadan bazaars would be handed over to mosques, public or private higher education institutions, the asnaf group, orphans and any individuals in need.

She said the initiative, from Feb 23 to March 14, was aimed, among other things, to prevent food wastage by saving food surplus to be distributed to those in need.

"Through this effort, we believe many will benefit as KPDN focuses on recipients from low-income households, the asnaf group, orphans and students," she said when contacted by Bernama.

Meanwhile, she said five selected Ramadan bazaars in Pahang for i-FB collection points are the Pantai Selamat and Mahkota Square Ramadan bazaars here, as well as similiar bazaars in Taman Tasik in Pekan, Kuala Lipis (Lipis) and Muadzam Shah (Rompin).

Previously, Domestic Trade and Living Costs Minister, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, was reported to have said that i-FB not only serves as a food aid programme but also contributes to environmental sustainability efforts.

Armizan said that based on data from the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), Malaysians are reported to generate 17,000 tonnes of food waste daily.

The programme also emphasises efforts to promote the value of benevolence in society to collectively participate in the movement to support the community, especially vulnerable groups and target groups, in providing food aid through food banks.

-- BERNAMA