The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living aims to launch a comprehensive five-year plan to enhance food aid and strengthen Malaysia’s social safety net.
BANGI: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) is targeting the launch of the National Food Bank Action Plan 2026-2030 early next year.
Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the five-year plan will serve as a comprehensive framework to enhance food aid initiatives and strengthen the nation’s social safety net ecosystem.
He said the draft action plan is currently in its initial preparation phase.
It will be developed based on findings from the two-day Food Bank Malaysia Convention 2025, which started today.
The plan will draw on feedback and suggestions from various stakeholders, including non-governmental organisations, industry players, retailers, hotel chains and government agencies.
“Based on the outcomes of this convention, we aim to hold a follow-up engagement session as soon as possible,” Armizan told reporters after officiating the convention.
He said the plan is an important document that will set the direction and outline achievement targets.
It should define clear objectives and identify communities that have yet to receive assistance.
Armizan said a government-integrated approach is crucial to ensure effectiveness and uniform standards.
This is despite many NGOs having actively run food bank initiatives for over two decades.
“For me, any application to the government should be accompanied by complete documents showing the programme’s effectiveness,” he said.
He added that KPDN aims to ensure the transformation of the food bank programme from 2026 focuses on sustainability and food security.
It will also reinforce food banks as initiatives that ease the cost of living.
The implementation should align with Malaysia’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 12.3.
This goal aims to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030.
The initiative also supports the environmental sustainability objectives of the 13th Malaysia Plan.
The Food Bank Malaysia Convention brought together over 1,000 participants.
These included government agencies, food industry players, retailers, hotel chains, NGOs and community volunteers.
Since its inception in 2019, the Malaysian Food Bank Programme has benefited 1,164,932 households and 51,200 students.
It has also saved 6,511 tonnes of surplus food through food rescue.
Armizan said a comprehensive transformation is needed to ensure the programme remains relevant and organised.
He is confident the national action plan will mobilise the initiative more effectively through a whole-of-nation approach.
