GEORGE TOWN – The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) today urged Muslims to stop the practice of breaking fast at hotel buffets, in a bid to reduce food wastage during the holy fasting month of Ramadan, which starts on Sunday.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said the culture of breaking fast at extravagant buffet spreads has turned what is supposed to be a period of devotion for Muslims into a source of profit for businesses.
“Iftar or breaking fast is traditionally done in the home with the family members or in the mosque in a spiritual environment, but it has been turned into a ‘feast with a 100-dish spread’ in hotels and restaurants,” he said at the launch of the Avoid Waste and Practice Charity campaign.
About 200,000 tonnes of food went straight to the rubbish bin every fasting month, according to a 2016 report published by the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Corporation (SWCorp).
Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organization (Mapim) president Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid said that the food waste is the result of commercialisation and not just limited to Islam but across all religions.
“Many industries have taken this opportunity to make more profit and we are getting more greedy as we seek to buy more and use more, leading to overwhelming wastage.
“There are around 300 mosques in Penang and I hope to be able to speak about wastage during the fasting month to them,” he said.
Penang Mufti Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor, who was also present at the launch, advised Muslims to seek a closer relationship with God and practice social spiritualism so that their faith can be increased when getting involved with the community.
He cited examples of Muslims in Turkey who, instead of overconsuming during breaking fast, observe Iftar surrounded by friends and family in a simple manner.
Instead of breaking fast at hotels, a recommended location is at homes or mosques, Wan Salim said, adding that they also encouraged Muslims to extend invitations to non-Muslims to build goodwill and understanding among Malaysians. – The Vibes, March 29, 2022
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