MCA has expressed concern over reports that more than 10,000 school canteen operators are expected to raise their prices by 50% next year and called for the government to step I to ensure affordability.

The party’s Public Policy and People’s Livelihood Research Advisory Committee chairperson Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew said the Education Ministry (MOE) and the Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry must address the increase, which is said to be due to the enforcement concerning the use of subsidised items such as packet cooking oil and sugar.

“Ensuring affordable, nutritious meals for children, especially from B40 and M40 families, is crucial. The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022 shows that about 21.2% of Malaysian children are affected by stunting, often linked to poverty,” Ong said in a statement.

She further cited a news report on Dec 9 last year quoting Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh as saying that she has met families who will just mix water with sugar to feed their babies as they cannot afford to buy milk, and deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni who said on Nov 1 last year that 29.7% of Malaysian children aged up to four years old had or are currently suffering from stunted growth.

“According to ministry data for the last five years, those with lower incomes tend to go for cheaper and less nutritious food due to their limited financial resources which had been made worse by the rising cost of living over the past few years,” she remarked.

“As these reports indicate that Yeoh and Lukanisman are aware of the severe impact of rising food costs on vulnerable families, they need to explain as to why no subsequent endeavours appear to have been undertaken to tackle the link between stunted growth and poverty which they had communicated about.”

Ong said simultaneously, both Yeoh and Lukanisman need to urge MOE and the Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry for solutions to ensure that growing children will not suffer the effects of malnutrition and stunted growth should exorbitant prices of canteen food and drinks take effect.

“The Finance Ministry could also offer tax incentives to canteen operators to keep the prices of food and drinks affordable,” she added. - Aug 6, 2024 

https://focusmalaysia.my/govt-urged-to-intervene-to-ensure-affordability-in-price-of-canteen-food/