FOOD WASTE: EXPERTS URGE AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS BEFORE LAWS

By Suraidah Roslan

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 30 (Bernama) -- Experts have urged the government to prioritise public awareness over strict laws in addressing Malaysia’s growing food waste problem.

Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Ibrahim Komoo, head of the Sustainability and Earth Health Cluster at the Malaysian Academy of Professors (APM), said legal measures should only be considered once public awareness of food waste, currently nearing 17,000 tonnes per day, reaches a sufficient level.

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He suggested a comprehensive awareness campaign in collaboration with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), alongside regulations targeting food traders and suppliers, including markets and restaurants.

Ibrahim also recommended that the government and stakeholders develop innovations under a ‘food circularity’ concept, covering the entire food chain from production to waste management. Such initiatives, he said, could help redistribute surplus food to the needy and support the composting industry.

He echoed concerns raised by Safe Communities Network chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye about the increasing severity of food waste in the country.

“Many countries already have laws or practices to reduce food waste. We can learn from their experience and observe local behaviour before introducing further measures,” he told Bernama.

Environmental activist and member of the National Climate Change Consultation Panel at the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) Dr Mogesh Sababathy said food waste should be seen as a food system governance crisis, not merely a waste management issue.

He said any proposed legislation should focus on core elements such as mandatory food waste reporting and clearly defined responsibilities for producers, retailers and large-scale food operators.

“It should include legal protection for safe food donations under a ‘Good Samaritan’ clause to encourage redistribution without liability concerns,” he added.

Mogesh said enforcement alone would not suffice without effective implementation mechanisms, proper economic incentives, transparent and auditable data, and sustained efforts to change public behaviour.

For the short term, he recommended mandatory food waste separation, incentives for businesses donating surplus food, and standardised expiry labels to prevent disposal of edible items.

Long-term measures could include adopting a circular food economy, converting food waste into biogas and fertiliser, and considering a ‘pay-as-you-throw’ model to encourage responsible behaviour. He also proposed establishing a national food waste database to support data-driven policymaking.

Last Saturday, Lee said Malaysia must act urgently to tackle the escalating food waste crisis, including introducing a Food Waste Reduction Act. He noted that Malaysians discard about 16,688 tonnes of food daily, making the country one of the largest contributors to food waste in the region.

-- BERNAMA