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KUALA LUMPUR – A detailed investigation by the Education Ministry (MoE) into allegations that a student was served with only plain white rice and gravy under the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) has received backlash from netizens.
Social media has been abuzz with dissatisfaction about Education Minister Datuk Mohd Radzi Md Jidin’s explanation that the meal was not served under the RMT programme, Getaran reported.
Noting that the findings were announced in less than 12 hours since the probe was conducted, enraged netizens have demanded for Radzi to give a detailed statement so that the student involved is not subjected to any punishment following the exposé.
“By the looks of it, the findings of the investigation are suspicious. The minister had just said he would investigate the matter in the morning but in the evening, he had already received the results of the detailed investigation. Wow, how terrific, MoE,” social media user Adam Rahim said cynically.
Another social media user by the name of Zaiton Lahur stressed that the ministry needs to provide a thorough answer as to where the student received the meal from.
“It seems that there is a hidden motive behind this finding,” said Zaiton who was alluding to a possible cover-up by using the traditional Malay saying: ada udang disebalik batu.
Harun Salim, another netizen, also echoed Adam and Zaiton’s sentiments, saying the explanation by MoE seems ambiguous.
“Don’t tell me the student lied to his/her aunty. This matter needs to be clarified in detail by the ministry because the answer given seems unclear (tergantung),” said Harun.
Yesterday, Radzi cleared the air in a Facebook post, explaining that a ministry representative had paid a visit to the school to conduct a detailed investigation into the allegation which made its rounds on social media since Wednesday.
“We found that the (food) in the picture was not the food provided for RMT recipients at the school.
“All meals for RMT recipients are provided by canteen operators for them to consume in schools only,” he said, referring to the viral post illustrating a box of white rice and gravy, supposedly given to a student, was brought back and shown to the student’s grandaunt.
At the same time, he stressed that the ministry is continuously working on improving the programme, including in the preparation of food and milk for recipients.
On Wednesday, a Facebook account holder posted a photo claiming that only white rice and gravy were served to students under the RMT programme.
“This is so sadistic. What kind of food is given to the children at schools? Is the allocation for the RMT programme so inadequate that canteen operators are giving low-quality food like this to children?
“Before this, when the children complained that the food under the programme was not tasty, we would tell them to be grateful because there is still food for them.
“But who is this for? For chickens? We don’t know whose fault it is in cases like this.”
For the record, RMT was first introduced in 1979 to provide additional food items that can be enjoyed especially by primary school students from rural and low-income groups so that their health, physical and nutrition conditions may improve.
It was then improved in 2020 and has meals which consist of over 20 menus prepared by school canteen operators based on the recommendation by the Health Ministry. – The Vibes, January 21, 2022
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