KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s edible food waste problem stems from market failure and weak policy implementation rather than food shortage, food security experts told theSun.
Universiti Teknologi Mara researcher Assoc Prof Dr Fazleen Abdul Fatah said the core issue lies in how food systems distribute supply based on purchasing power rather than actual need.
She said this mismatch represents a structural failure in calorie distribution.
“This does not happen because Malaysia lacks food, but because food is distributed according to demand supported by money. It flows to those who can afford it, not necessarily to those who need it.
“When demand turns out to be lower than expected, food that is still safe and nutritious becomes surplus and is often disposed.”
Fazleen said the imbalance is evident in post-harvest and retail losses, adding that between 20% and 50% of fruits and vegetables are lost due to inadequate cold storage, packaging and handling, although overall food production remains sufficient.
At the same time, access remains constrained for low-income households, particularly in rural areas, where 44% of B40 households face high prices, long distances to retail outlets and limited purchasing power.
“Surplus can exist in supermarkets and distribution centres, while low-income or remote communities still cannot access food due to price, location and additional costs.
“Without efficient logistics and information on where surplus exists and when it should be collected, food is more likely to be discarded rather than redistributed in time.”
Universiti Utara Malaysia expert Assoc Prof Dr Bakri Mat said from a policy perspective, the continued disposal of edible food reflects a failure to institutionalise redistribution despite the presence of legal safeguards.
He cited the Food Donor Protection Act 2020, which provides liability protection to food donors acting in good faith, but said the law has not been fully embedded into national food security or poverty alleviation frameworks.
“The issue is not the absence of law. The challenge lies in weak institutionalisation and implementation.
“Edible food redistribution still depends heavily on NGOs, volunteers and ad hoc initiatives, rather than a coordinated national system.”
Bakri said business concerns over liability and food safety are often driven by low awareness of the Act and the absence of clear SOP.
“There is no consistent guidance on safe timeframes, storage, logistics or responsibility after food is handed over. As a result, disposal is often seen as the safer option.”
He added that the most critical policy gap is the lack of a coordinated implementation ecosystem, including incentives, reporting mechanisms and clearly defined roles among local authorities, health regulators, welfare agencies and the private sector.
“This is not an issue of charity, but a governance issue. Policy exists, but the system to make it work remains weak.”
