KUALA LUMPUR, 21 November 2016 – Most people fail to realise the amount of food they throw away on a daily basis. From farm to fork, about 95 percent of the food we discard ends up in landfills or combustion facilities, which in the long run will lead to grave consequences to the environment, natural resources and national economy.
To minimise the consequences of this wasteful habit and maximise food usage, MSIG realizes the importance of raising awareness of food wastage, therefore partners with FAF in support of their food bank programme. Since March this year, 213 MSIG staff have volunteered alongside with FAF who amasses near-expiry, non-perishable and halal foods such as canned edibles from food manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, willing donors and thereon turn them into nourishing meals.
Mr Chua Seck Guan, MSIG Malaysia Chief Executive Officer said: “At MSIG, we care about the community and one of the things we, as Malaysians, are passionate about is food. In our endeavour, we want to drive consumers to think about and act on reducing food wastage. It is vital that we do our part and find a way to turn excess food into nutritious meals, which we then share with the less fortunate. Through our partnership with FAF, our employees have dedicated their personal time and gone the extra mile to lend a helping hand to FAF and their noble cause.”
Mr Rick Chee, Founder of Food Aid Foundation explained: “FAF was conceptualised with one mission in mind – to collect unwanted but edible foods and distribute them to those in need. Since then, we have been steadfast with our effort, supported by volunteers from organisations such as MSIG. While monetary help is useful, it is the time and energy invested by our volunteers that we value. After all, it is not only about distributing food to the underprivileged, but also lend a friendly human touch that reinforces how much we care. We are thankful to MSIG and their unfaltering support, and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership for many years to come.”
Recently, MSIG invited FAF to participate in the ‘MSIG CSR Outreach Programme 2016’ on 17 and 19 October, in which FAF contributed a talk – ‘Waste not Want not’ to its staff and agents. The talk raised awareness about food wastage and involved the sharing of tips on how to prevent it.
To date, more than 1,300 underprivileged children and seniors around Klang Valley benefitted from this joint effort. In addition to distributing food, MSIG also gave out basic hygiene kits such as toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo and shower gel in an effort to improve their health and way of living. “Since the start of the partnership, our team at MSIG has gathered a stronger insight about food wastage and how to prevent it, which in the long run has galvanised us to be more mindful of the quantity we buy so that we will not end up wasting it. At the same time, through our volunteer work with FAF, we have reinforced the meaning of community spirit among ourselves. It is undeniable that we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with FAF in the coming future,” ended Mr Chua.
