Malaysia faces a growing food waste crisis, with 16,688 tonnes of food wasted daily, enough to feed millions, according to Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, chairman of the Alliance for a Safe Community.
Lee highlighted that nearly 60% of food waste is avoidable, spanning households, restaurants, supermarkets and manufacturers.
He warned that wasted food also means wasted water, energy, land and labour, making it both an environmental and economic threat.
To tackle the problem, Lee called for a Food Waste Reduction Act that would set reduction targets, mandate reporting for businesses, guide food donation and recycling, and impose penalties for excessive waste while incentivising sustainable practices.
“Legislation can encourage businesses to manage inventory better, donate surplus food and foster a culture of sustainability,” he said.
He highlighted that the proposed law would also support the UN Sustainable Development Goal of halving food waste by 2030 and help address food insecurity by redistributing edible surplus to charities and food banks.
“Food waste is a problem we can no longer ignore. It threatens our environment, economy and society,” Lee said, urging immediate legislative action to build a more sustainable and equitable Malaysia.
