Parties should not profit from meals for B40 students, says Nurul Izzah

 

Nurul Izzah Anwar said there are schools using condensed milk as a substitute for dairy milk, and noodles are dished out only in small portions.

PETALING JAYA: No companies will profit from the supplementary food programme (RMT) provided for schoolchildren from the B40 income group, says Nurul Izzah Anwar.

The co-chair at the secretariat of the advisory panel for the finance ministry said children from this group, who are not getting enough nutrition in their daily meals, are also not getting healthy food from the RMT programmes in their schools.

Citing examples, she said there are schools that use condensed milk as a substitute for dairy milk, adding that noodles are dished out only in small portions for these children.

“We need to monitor the RMT programme and ensure that the implementers are providing children with highly nutritious meals,” she said in a Facebook post.

“We will also ensure that the RMT contracts would no longer be awarded to just about anyone to ensure those selected can provide proper meals to the schoolchildren needing them. No one will profiteer from meals for B40 students.”

The RMT programme had previously come under public scrutiny following exposure by netizens of the lack of nutritious meals provided for B40 schoolchildren. The education ministry had since been pushed to increase the allocation for the programme.

The secretariat of the advisory panel of the finance ministry advises Anwar Ibrahim on matters related to subsidies and the provision of more holistic social protection. - FMT