Melaka: A total of 60.7 tonnes of surplus food, valued at an estimated RM726,000, was saved from being discarded through the MySaveFood Programme during Ramadan last year. The initiative was executed at 149 Ramadan bazaars across Perlis, Kedah, Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, as stated by Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the surplus food involved unsold items by Ramadan bazaar traders, which were then distributed to various groups including students at institutions of higher learning, surau, mosques, and housing estates. “This year, we anticipate saving a similar amount of food as last year. In Melaka alone, within just a few days, 4.8 tonnes of surplus food and beverages have already been salvaged from being disposed of,” Khalid noted. He added that the surplus food and beverages will be distributed to the needy, helping to reduce waste. He shared these details with reporters after the Ramadan MySaveFood Programme held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) Ramadan Bazaar.

SWCorp deputy chief executive officer (Technical) Zulkifli Tamby Chik and its Melaka director Nor Zaki Md Nor were also present at the event. Khalid emphasized that the MySaveFood Ramadan Programme not only helps prevent food waste but also reduces the volume of solid waste sent to landfills in participating states. “Overall, we found that the amount of waste disposed of at landfills in the seven states involved has decreased by 2.7 per cent during Ramadan compared to other months,” he said. This reduction highlights the success of the Ramadan MySaveFood Programme in minimizing waste while benefiting both traders and recipients of the surplus food.

In Melaka, the average daily surplus food and beverages saved at the four Ramadan bazaars, which include MITC, Peringgit, Jasin Bestari, and Alor Gajah, is 600 kilogrammes (kg) per day. Khalid reported that a total of 5,304 kg of food and beverages were saved at the four Ramadan bazaars since the programme commenced on March 10.