SUNGAI PETANI: The government will continue providing free milk to underprivileged pupils in view of its benefits and increasing consumption trend.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) and School Milk Programme (PSS), introduced in 1983, had received positive response and had made an impact.
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"After a few years of implementation, students grew accustomed to drinking fresh milk.
"The increase in (consumption of) fresh milk is a good indicator (of PSS' success).
"With about 800,000 pupils currently receiving both RMT and PSS, the government will be spending RM547mil on them," he said after opening World School Milk Day at a hotel here on Tuesday (Sept 27).
Dr Mah added that an open tender system was used to appoint suppliers.
The event drew about 300 attendees, mainly from schools in Kedah.
