A Malay netizen recently sparked a discussion online after comparing the canteen meals at Chinese vernacular schools (SJKC) and national primary schools (SK).
The netizen highlighted how the SJKC meals, priced at RM4.50, offer a balanced diet with vegetables, meat, eggs, and even fruit, far surpassing the RM3 plate of fried kway teow from SK canteens, which was criticized earlier for its small portion size.
SJKC meal more nutritious
In a post on social media platform X, the user, “@KroniRakyat,” shared images of both meals, noting that while the SJKC meal is slightly more expensive, it is far more nutritious and filling.
Comparing the two, the SK meal was described as a simple plate of fried kway teow with visibly small portions, whereas the SJKC meal included rice or noodles, vegetables, meat, eggs, and fruit.
The netizen humorously remarked that this might explain why some Malay parents are eager to enroll their children in SJKC, as the canteen management appears more organized and thoughtful.
Sekarang korang paham kan, kenapa mak bapak ada yang pulun nak hantar anak pi SJKC. Yang tak mampu ni? Tu tak kira air manis secawan RM1.00.
— KroniRakyat (@KroniRakyat) December 21, 2024
🥲🥲🥲@FadhlinaSiddiq mohon bantuan. pic.twitter.com/WVlQcUtUBo
The post also tagged Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, urging her to enhance the management of SK canteens.
The netizen called for a review of canteen operators to ensure students are provided with balanced and nutritious meals during school hours.
Netizens’ reaction
The post quickly went viral, sparking mixed reactions from netizens.
“Difference in mentality: At SJKC, parents are united in demanding healthy food from the canteen, supported by the PTA. At SK, when parents bring up the issue of healthy food, other parents mock them, saying, ‘Oh please, like you’ve never given your kids hotdogs and junk food before. Stop pretending.’ Difference in mentality.”
“If I have kids, I’d willingly send them to SJKC… but if it’s preschool, I’d just enroll them in KEMAS kindergarten 😏.”
“Which SJKC is this? Back when I was in SJKC, the canteen food wasn’t like this at all 😭.”
