Food programme allocation for Kemas preschools to be increased, says Rubiah

KOTA SAMARAHAN (Aug 5): The allocation for the food programme of the ‘tabika’ (kindergartens) and ‘taska’ (nursery centres) under the Department of Community Development (Kemas) would be increased, Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang has assured.

The increment, according to the Kota Samarahan MP, is meant to be aligned with the current market prices.

Moreover, she says the Health Ministry (MoH) is assisting her ministry in managing the cost for food rationing.

It is informed that the current allocation for ‘tabika’ is RM3.25 per pupil a day, and for the ‘taska’, it is RM4 per pupil a day.

“We would like to extend our gratitude to the MoH for assisting us in this matter, meant to ensure that the children receive nutritious food.

“With this, we hope that the Ministry of Finance could consider such a proposal in ensuring that the provision of nutritious food in Kemas’ kindergartens and childcare centres would be improved,” she said in officiating at the Kota Samarahan parliamentary constituency-level ‘Parenting Skills Workshop’ held at the civic centre here yesterday.

Rubiah pointed out the importance of providing young children with nutritious food, instead of letting them consume processed foods such as nuggets and sausages.

On the workshop, the federal deputy minister noted that it gathered 318 participants comprising parents and guardians of the pupils.

“Such a programme can help foster good relations between the Kemas teachers, the community developers and the parents.

“That said, such effort does not 100 per cent fall upon Kemas, but is also a collective measure involving the parents.

“All the information about the educational system should also be made known to the parents,” she added.