1 week Ago By Philip Kiew
Chiew speaks in Parliament. MIRI (Oct 18): The federal government should consider emulating the Japanese school lunch programme, ‘Kyushoku’, in offering nutritious food for students at affordable prices through government subsidies. In making this call, Miri MP Chiew Choon Man said the growing issue of malnutrition is affecting the health of schoolchildren in Malaysia, particularly in relation to problems with stunting and obesity.
“This issue needs serious attention because it has a long-term impact on the quality of life of the future generations. “Apart from the existing Supplementary Food Programme (RMT), programmes such as the Kyushoku programme need to be studied to introduce important elements into the nutrition programmes in Malaysian schools,” he said during a parliament session on Wednesday. Chiew pointed out the success of the Japanese approach, whereby the average height of adult men in Japan in 1950 was only around 160cm, but it has since increased to an average height of around 170cm.
“Another healthy development is that Japan has an obesity rate of only 4.5 per cent, which is much lower than the 19.7 per cent in Malaysia.
“Japan’s achievements did not happen by chance, but as a result of the implementation of several important policies,” he said. Chiew said the Kyushoku programme offers nutritious food at affordable prices through government subsidies and has succeeded in ensuring that schoolchildren get adequate nutrition from a young age, forming a culture of healthy eating that lasts until adulthood. He thus called on the Health Ministry to study this approach in an effort to overcome the growing problems of stunting and obesity among Malaysian children.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry agreed to learn and take examples of best practices from around the world, including Japan. This could enhance its Healthy Meals at School (HiTS) programme, which could be implemented together with RMT to ensure schoolchildren get proper nutrition, it added. Chiew also pledged to work with local agencies in expanding the HiTS programme for the benefit of the country’s young generation.
“This programme will not only improve the children’s physical health but also help form healthy eating habits from an early age, which will provide long-term benefits to their health and the country,” he said..
