Kuala lumpur: A total of 1,500 students from eight higher learning institutions in Terengganu have benefited from the Ihsan Food Bank Initiative (i-FB) introduced by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) this year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Terengganu KPDN director Mohd Mufsi Lat stated that the aid provided included biscuits, milk, instant food, and cooked meals worth an estimated RM17,123. The effort involved collaborations between KPDN, corporate companies, industry players, and non-governmental organisations to ensure food aid reached the targeted groups more efficiently.

"The i-FB initiative is part of KPDN's efforts to ease the cost-of-living pressures faced by target groups through the distribution of safe, quality food, while also reducing food waste and promoting sustainable and caring communities," Mohd Mufsi explained. The aid was distributed to students registered under the Food Bank Siswa programme at Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Politeknik Besut, Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) Dato' Razali Campus, Politeknik Hulu Terengganu, and IPG Sultan Mizan Campus, he noted during the i-FB contribution handover ceremony at UniSZA.

In another development, Mohd Mufsi reported that Terengganu KPDN conducted 771 MADANI Rahmah Sale Programme (PJRM) events across the state from January 1 to yesterday, benefitting about one million people. The PJRM Mobile initiative recorded the highest number of programmes with 430 sessions, followed by PJRM Premises with 303 sessions, PJRM Campus with 15 sessions, PJRM Market with 12, and PJRM Open with 11. This demonstrates KPDN's commitment to widening access to the programme, especially for rural communities, housing areas, and underserved locations.

"The strong public response demonstrates that PJRM has successfully achieved its key objectives of reducing the cost-of-living burden and ensuring access to essential goods at reasonable prices," Mohd Mufsi stated.