A woman in Malaysia was left upset after seeing several school meals from the Rancangan Makanan Tambahan (RMT) programme being thrown away despite still having plenty of food left.
The RMT programme provides free meals to students from lower-income families, especially those from the B40 group.
The woman shared the incident on Threads, where she questioned why some students appeared to be wasting the meals prepared for them.
Meals Were Still Full
In her post, the woman said she saw food being thrown into a large basin.
The meals reportedly came with vegetables and fruits, which she described as nutritious and meant to help students get a balanced meal during school hours.
She said teachers had already advised students to be grateful and to finish their food, but some still chose not to eat it.
Said It Was Not The School’s Fault
The woman also said the issue should not be blamed on the school, teachers, or the Ministry of Education.
She explained that the menu and portion sizes for RMT meals were already set to make sure students received proper nutrition for their growth.
However, she felt that some students had become too picky with food.
She added that parents should teach their children to appreciate food, avoid being too selective, and eat more real food such as fruits and vegetables instead of junk food.
Netizens Had Mixed Reactions
The post later drew mixed reactions online.
Some netizens agreed with the woman, saying students should be taught not to waste food, especially when the meals are provided for free.
However, others felt that the issue may not be so straightforward.
Some suggested that the RMT menu could be made more varied so that it would better suit children’s taste.
Others also raised the possibility that some students may feel embarrassed eating RMT meals if they are treated differently from other students.
While the woman’s post came from frustration, it also sparked a wider discussion about food waste, children’s eating habits, and how schools can make assistance programmes more comfortable for students.
For many, the incident was not just about unfinished food.
