School Feeding Program to Tackle Malnutrition Among Pupils, Level Playing Field & Improve Malaysian Food Production

Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) today hosted a discussion session on “School Feeding Programs and Other Mass Nutrition Initiatives” to propose school feeding as a policy option to improve the nutrition of the country. The proposed school lunch program tackles three main challenges for schools and communities: ensuring food security, especially food safety, improving nutrition in schools and communities, improving student performance and promoting equality.

The proposal draws from the forthcoming “Addressing Malnutrition in Malaysia” report by Professor Dr Wan Manan Wan Muda (public health researcher and former Visiting Senior Fellow at KRI), Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram (Senior Advisor at KRI) and Tan Zhai Gen (Research Associate at KRI). The report provides an overview of the nutrition status of Malaysians and policy options to address both micronutrient deficiencies (of vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium) and diet-related non-communicable diseases (such as diabetes and those causing obesity). The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and other relevant government ministries and agencies must work together to ensure the food provided is safe, healthy, nutritious and improves farmers’ welfare.

The session brought together participants from government ministries, agencies, researchers and civil society to debate and discuss how school feeding programs can help overcome malnutrition in Malaysia.