THE Education Ministry has launched the 1Malaysia Milk Programme (PS1M) guidebook in an attempt to ensure the proper handling of milk in schools.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan said the guidebook provides schools with afar better picture of how milk must be kept and handled.
“The guidebook addresses the pertinent issue of storage.
“Every school has different storage facilities, so this guidebook provides clear-cut guidelines as well as the minimum requirements needed to make sure students will receive a nutritional drink,” he said during the launch of the guidebook in conjunction with the 3K (cleanliness, health and safety) Awards last Wednesday.
Dutch Lady Milk Industries Berhad (Dutch Lady Malaysia) is one of the suppliers providing milk to the pupils.
Dutch Lady Malaysia managing director Saw Chooi Lee said the company wants to help Malaysian children to get sufficient daily nutrition.
“We continue to look for ways to make sure how young people can have a healthier life, which in turn will help them build a better nation in the future,” she said.
The school milk programme which started in 1983 was suspended in August 2007 by then deputy education minister Datuk Hon Choon Kim following reports of food poisoning among pupils in several schools nationwide.
Soya milk and vitamins were subsequently suggested as viable options to replace the milk programme.
Former deputy education minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said in May 2008 that the school milk programme would not resume until the authorities were satisfied that the milk was safely handled and would not cause food poisoning.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced in September 2010 during the Malaysia Day celebrations in Sabah, that the “1Malaysia milk’’ would be distributed to all pupils in Years One to Six nationwide.
Najib described milk as nutritious for the healthy development of children.
In March 2011, former education minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the high cost of running the milk programme for primary school pupils, had forced the Government to focus only on selected schools and children for the scheme. — By LEE CHONGHUI
