Perak: Food collection efforts through the MySaveFood@Ramadan (MSF) programme have seen a reduction this year, with approximately 150 kilograms of surplus food and beverages successfully saved in the first week of Ramadan compared to 400 kilograms collected during the same period last year.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the chairman of the Perak GEMA Malaysia Youth Organisation (GEMA), Puteri Aisyah Megat Shariffudin, stated that the food was collected from four bazaars across Perak since March 4. The MSF programme was conducted at Ramadan bazaars located in Taman Cempaka, Ungku Omar Polytechnic, Teluk Intan, and CDEc, Seri Iskandar.

Puteri Aisyah noted that the decrease in collection might be attributed to bazaars that have previously participated in the MSF programme, leading to increased awareness about the importance of minimizing waste and managing sales quotas. She also mentioned other potential factors, such as unpredictable weather, which can affect the amount of unsold food, particularly during heavy rains which can result in a surplus.

Last year, the programme successfully collected around 60,000 kilograms of food and beverages nationwide, with approximately 3,000 kilograms gathered from operations in nine Ramadan bazaars throughout Perak. This year, the MySaveFood@Ramadan 2025 programme aims to operate in several districts, including Ipoh, Batu Gajah, Tapah, Teluk Intan, Bagan Datuk, Tanjung Malim, Seri Iskandar, Manjung, and Taiping, targeting 15 Ramadan bazaar locations.

The initiative runs from March 2 to 26, with the same goal as last year: to reduce waste at Ramadan bazaars. The collected food is intended for distribution to those in need, including the poor, homeless, and orphans. Among the beneficiaries is a single mother with six children, who, thanks to the programme, can provide a variety of dishes for her family, enhancing their meal options significantly.