Govt sets course for national food bank reform with new 2026–2030 action plan

THE Government has signalled a major shift in its national approach to food rescue and social assistance with the launch of the inaugural Food Bank Malaysia Convention 2025, hosted by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) at the Bangi Avenue Convention Centre from 8 to 9 December.

The gathering, the first of its kind convened by KPDN, brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders — government agencies, food manufacturers, producers, retailers, hotel chains, non-governmental organisations and community volunteers — including eight primary strategic partners operating food bank initiatives within their respective localities.

The convention aims to catalyse a full transformation of the Food Bank Malaysia Programme, overseen by the ministry through the Food Bank Malaysia Secretariat since 2019.

The reform drive centres on three core goals: restructuring food bank operations using modern systems and technology; strengthening their role as a complementary pillar of the national social safety net; and expanding strategic cooperation through a whole-of-nation approach.

According to KPDN, the initiative has supported 1,164,932 households and 51,200 students between 2019 and 31 October 2025, through programmes such as the Community Food Bank and Food Bank Siswa. It has also rescued 6,511 tonnes of surplus food that would otherwise have gone to waste.

The ministry stressed that modernising the programme is crucial to enhancing its contribution to Malaysia’s social protection ecosystem while advancing the nation’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 12.3, which calls for halving food waste at both industrial and consumer levels by 2030.

Citing international and domestic data, KPDN highlighted the urgency of the issue.

A study by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that one-third of all food produced globally — around 1.3 billion tonnes — is wasted annually.

In Malaysia, reports from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) have shown that the country generates some 17,000 tonnes of food waste each day, of which 4,000 tonnes could potentially be recovered and repurposed.

Beyond its sustainability commitments, the transformation of the Food Bank Malaysia Programme forms part of a broader national development agenda.

It has been identified as a strategic driver under the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), within the Fourth Pillar: Enhancing People’s Well-being and Environmental Sustainability.

Under this framework, the programme will be realigned to emphasise food sustainability and security, as well as welfare and cost-of-living support, anchored in unity and collective responsibility.

To give structure to this effort, KPDN will develop the National Food Bank Action Plan 2026–2030. Findings and insights from the convention will serve as the foundation for the plan, which the ministry intends to refine through further engagement sessions before finalising.

In a statement issued in Bangi, Selangor, on 8 December, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali affirmed the government’s commitment to building a holistic, forward-looking framework that strengthens Malaysia’s food rescue capabilities while reinforcing social protection for vulnerable communities. - December 8, 2025