Press Release

Sunway has embarked on its Food for Thought campaign, targeting to distribute 8,100 packed meals to the urban poor in the Klang Valley needing nutritional support during the conditional movement control order (CMCO) period.

The campaign was first undertaken upon the announcement of the re-enforcement of CMCO in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya from 14 to 27 October with a target distribution of 4,050 packs of food. In response to the extension of the CMCO, Sunway had immediately doubled its commitment to deliver 8,100 packs and extended its distribution period to 9 November 2020.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-UNICEF study conducted in May 2020, one in four heads of households were unemployed during the movement control order (MCO), and that most of those who lost their jobs have no employment protection.

Earlier UNICEF studies also showed lower-income families have been struggling to cope, with families drawing monthly incomes of below RM5,000 forced to consume less food despite spending more money on it.

The Food for Thought Campaign intends to deliver immediate nutritional support to those most impacted by the recent CMCO – the homeless and those residing in People’s Housing Project (PPR) flats, where sole breadwinners have lost their sources of income.

The food packs are provided by malls in the Klang Valley under the Sunway Malls’ umbrella, namely Sunway Pyramid, Sunway Velocity Mall and Sunway Putra Mall. 

Sunway is working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Kechara Soup Kitchen and Adab Youth Garage to distribute the food packs.

Sunway Group deputy chairman Tan Sri Datuk Seri Razman Hashim said it has come to Sunway’s attention that many households are unable to afford sufficient food.

“It is now more important than ever to ensure that Malaysians have basic nutritional needs met during these challenging times. We have worked with select tenants in our malls to customise halal and well-balanced packed foods with proteins and vegetables.

“We hope this immediate food aid will be able to support fellow Malaysians during this challenging period,” he added.

Kechara Soup Kitchen operations director Justin Cheah said his organisation has increased food distribution since the CMCO was implemented.

“Food security is among the many issues faced by the homeless in the Klang Valley. Sunway’s assistance comes when we need it the most,” he added.

Adab Youth Garage founder, Nizam bin Samsudin, whose organisation is known for distributing meals to residents in PPR flats and bottom 40% (B40) income-group families in urban areas in Selangor said families in PPR flats are in dire need of assistance.

“There are many cases where sole bread winners of families had lost their jobs during the MCO and these families are now unable to feed their children.  Also, as people stay at home during this period, and even those operating small businesses such as selling food and wares, are highly affected.

“While higher-income families are not worried about nutrition even during this period, it becomes a primary concern for families and their children at PPR flats as they are trying very hard to save money, not knowing how long their hardship will last.

“Their sufferings often bring our volunteers to tears, and we hope that corporations and other Malaysians will come forward to help ease their hardship.”

The Food for Thought campaign is an immediate nutritional aid programme which follows the #SunwayforGood Food Bank programme that pledges to collect 40,000 kilogrammes of food, with the aim of surpassing that target by end-2020.

The collection intends to feed 25,000 individuals in B40 families worst hit during the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the country.

The #SunwayforGood Food Bank programme is among the #SunwayforGood initiatives that have helped 38,487 people this year.