Kota Kinabalu: The Education Ministry has been asked to introduce the Sistem Kantong under the Food Supplement Programme (RMT) in Sabah as the present system did not follow the standard set by the Ministry.
Kota Belud MP, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said "The food supplement under the RMT given to schools in Sabah lack nutritional value which are necessary to improve the pupils and students physical outlook and mental wellbeing to enable them achieve excellence in their studies.
Speaking during a dinner for school principals at Tang Dynasty Hotel, Tuesday, he said this is especially so in the interior because from his observation the pupils' development has not improved.
According to him, the appointed supplier of the Education Ministry in the peninsula supplies food supplements under the Kantong System, which explains why the supplement there adheres to the RMT requirement.
But in Sabah, the food supplement is prepared by the school's canteen, which is not according to the RMT standard.
He said that the Chemistry Department and Health Department have also acknowledged the Kantong System.
"There is simply too many weaknesses in the present system," he said, adding some were unhappy with the proposal because it would burden and inconvenienced the canteen operators.
"The RMT programme is meant to benefit the pupils and students and not the canteen operators," he said.
