BANGI, SELANGOR, MALAYSIA December 8, 2025 – The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) today kicked off the inaugural Food Bank Malaysia Convention 2025, a two-day event running from December 8 to 9 at the Bangi Avenue Convention Centre (BACC). The convention aims to spearhead a major transformation of the Food Bank Malaysia Program, culminating in the development of the National Food Bank Action Plan 2026-2030.
Bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders—including government agencies, food manufacturers and producers, retailers, hotel chains, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community volunteers—the event features eight Main Strategic Partners (RSUs) who operate food banks in their respective localities. This collaborative gathering marks a pivotal step in enhancing the program, which has been overseen by KPDN’s Food Bank Malaysia Secretariat since its inception in 2019.
The primary goal of the convention is to pioneer reforms that strengthen the implementation of the Food Bank Malaysia Program. Key objectives include:
– Restructuring the program using cutting-edge systems and technologies;
– Bolstering its role as a supportive and complementary initiative within the national social safety net ecosystem; and
– Enhancing strategic partnerships among existing stakeholders while expanding nationwide collaboration through a “whole of nation” approach.
From 2019 to October 31, 2025, the program has successfully reached 1,164,932 household heads and 51,200 students through initiatives like the Community Food Bank and Student Food Bank. It has also incorporated food rescue efforts, salvaging over 6,511 metric tons of surplus food.
This transformation is deemed essential to amplify the program’s value as a pillar in Malaysia’s social safety network. It aligns with the country’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, which targets a 50% reduction in food waste at the industrial and consumer levels by 2030.
Highlighting the global and local scale of the issue, a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) study notes that one-third of the world’s food production—equivalent to 1.3 billion metric tons—is wasted annually. In Malaysia, reports cited from the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp) indicate that citizens generate 17,000 metric tons of food waste daily, with 4,000 metric tons holding potential for optimal rescue and utilization.
The initiative also supports the Fourth Pillar of the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13), focused on “Enhancing People’s Well-being and Environmental Sustainability.” It emphasizes key components such as food sustainability and security, alongside charitable aid to address cost-of-living challenges, all underpinned by unity and collective responsibility.
To realize this transformation agenda, KPDN plans to formulate the “National Food Bank Action Plan 2026–2030.” Insights from the convention will serve as the foundation for this holistic and comprehensive plan, with follow-up engagement sessions to gather further input and feedback before finalization.
Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, emphasized the importance of these efforts in a statement released today, underscoring the program’s role in fostering national unity and sustainability.