KUALA LUMPUR: Prices of food sold at school canteens are monitored by the respective district education office, says Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh.
“The office will monitor the prices (to ensure they) are suitable,” he said during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday (July 15).
He said students from low-income families are also given meals under the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT).
Wong said the ministry had allocated the highest amounts for RMT in the last two years, with RM616mil in 2022 and RM777mil last year, while RM716mil has been set aside for this year.
“We want to ensure that our children not only get breakfast but are also able to receive nutrients needed for them to grow,” he said.
Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) had asked if the ministry has mechanisms to monitor prices in school canteens as there have been complaints from time to time.
The Malaysian School Canteen Operators Association was quoted as saying in January that food prices in canteens had gone up by 50% because of expensive raw materials.
