Day: April 27, 2022

NILAI, April 27 (Bernama) — The government has allocated RM464,000 to provide ‘retort machines’ that work (via commercial sterilisation and vacuum sealed) to prevent food wastage, said Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Datuk Rosol Wahid.

He said the government urged the hotel industry, catering operators and food traders to work together to deliver food to locations where there were retort machine facilities to achieve the target of zero wastage.

He said so far, retort machines had been installed at Hotel Seri Malaysia Perlis, Hotel Primula Terengganu, Hotel Le Meridien Putrajaya and Al Huda Enterprise and Food Aid Foundation in Kuala Lumpur.

“The government plans to install this machine at the Sultan Idris Shah Sg Air Tawar Polytechnic in Selangor; Grand Darul Makmur Hotel Kuantan in Pahang; and Hotel Seri Malaysia Alor Setar in Kedah.

“I was informed that at least four tonnes of food will be wasted during Ramadan this year. The ministry is planning to make this machine available in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said at the ‘Jualan Malaysia Rancak’ Aidilfitri programme at AEON Mall here today.

He said through this initiative, more than 2,000 packets of retort-packaged food were distributed among university students affected by the floods this year.

He added that food packaged using the retort machine is guaranteed to be clean, have a longer shelf life and safe to eat.

He said the machine was an initiative of the ministry through Food Bank Malaysia to achieve the objective of zero wastage in food and beverages – which are still good and untouched – to help target groups get safe food supplies notably during natural disasters.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

PUTRAJAYA, April 27 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged the public to continue to be vigilant against COVID-19 despite the further loosening of the standard operating procedure (SOP) in the control and prevention of the scourge.

“More relaxations have been given but let’s not assume there is no danger around us. COVID-19 is still around and we have no choice but to live with it… therefore, we must be vigilant,” he told the media after breaking fast with farmers, fishermen and breeders here tonight.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today announced the relaxation of several COVID-19 control and preventive measures from May 1, with the wearing of face masks in outdoor settings and open areas no longer compulsory but optional while the MySejahtera QR code scan is no longer compulsory for check-ins.

Ismail Sabri said although the relaxations had been given, such ‘freedom’ does not mean the people no longer need to practice self-discipline for the protection of their families, own selves and communities.

“Although ‘free’ (no need for face masks) in open areas, once you are in crowded areas I recommend the wearing of face masks for your own safety,” he said.

For example, he said, it is a common practice to visit the graves on Raya morning while for Aidilfitri prayers also there is no physical distancing anymore, so the public is encouraged to wear face masks although it is not an offence.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency