政府将增千家“一马餐单”餐馆,刘华才冀推广至大学工厂组屋区

民青团总秘书刘华才博士对国内贸易、合作社和消费人事务部预计在今年底，另有1000家餐馆将加入"一个马来西亚人民餐单"计划表示欢迎。目前国内已有超过3000家餐馆加入这项计划，让人民从中受惠。

"这是国阵政府的一项以民为本的善举，特别是在目前生活费日益高涨的时刻，这肯定将能减轻人民的生活负担，希望能有更多餐馆能够参与。"

他说，在政府努力吸引更多餐馆参与此计划的同时，当局也须关注来自各方针对有关计划的意见，以便能进一步改善，让更多民众能真正从中受惠。

"有些不满的民众投诉说，参与此‘一个马来西亚人民餐单'的一些餐馆仅提供很少项的食物供选择，而有些餐馆更是每日仅提供有限数量食物，售完为止，结果民众须付更高的价格购买食物，这对消费者是非常不公平的。"

刘华才博士也是思特雅国际大学副教授，他询问当局曾在去年4月间宣布将把"一个马来西亚人民餐单"与"一个马来西亚人民商店"推介至国内大专院校以减轻大专生的生活负担，如今的进展情况如何。

"我认为，当局除了应该鼓励国内大专院校食堂多参与‘一个马来西亚人民餐单'计划，也应该推广至工厂食堂、人民组屋区及公共交通总站诸如吉隆坡中环车站、南湖镇车站及富都中环车站等，以让更多来自中低收入民众受惠。

刘华才博士最后也促请当局应成立一支特工队，以对参与此项"一个马来西亚人民餐单"计划的餐馆进行监督与巡查，避免出现任何不负责任的行为。

Gerakan Youth delighted with 1,000 more eateries offering MR1M

Dr Dominic Lau urges more to participate in the scheme

Press statement by

Gerakan Youth Secretary General

Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai

15 February 2013

Gerakan Youth Secretary General, Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai encouraged more eateries to participate in the Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia programme after an announcement of another 1,000 eateries will participate in the scheme bringing an increasing amount to the 3,300 plus eateries already taking part.

"This is a good effort by the government as the cost of food is increasing everyday due to various factors. By doing so, hopefully this will loosen the peoples wallet."

He added that while the government is doing a good job to attract more eateries, there are several problems arising from the scheme after being voiced out by several quarters.

"Some disgruntled customers complained that there is a lack of choices in terms of food offered under this scheme. There are even eateries offering only a limited amount of MR1M's per day, forcing many customers to purchase other food which are clearly more expensive. This is unfair to the customers."

Dr Dominic Lau, also a UCSI associate professor raised a vital question on a previous proposal of introducing the MR1M and KR1M in tertiary institutions that was aimed to lessen the burden of students. He is asking for the development on that proposal after it has been announced April 2012.

"The existence of the MR1M should not only be made in universities, but also factories, PPR areas and also public transport hubs such as KL Sentral, TBS, Pudu Sentral and many more as it is usually being frequented by the lower to middle income group."

Finally, he suggested that the government should implement a task force to monitor any potential abuse of the MR1M by irresponsible eateries.