March 21, 2025
PETALING JAYA – As the sun sets over Ramadan bazaars across Malaysia, the scent of freshly grilled satay and bubbling pots of fragrant curries fills the air.
But as stalls begin to close, another mission quietly unfolds – a race against waste.
Armed with collection bins and a sense of purpose, 2,100 volunteers from Gema Youth Malaysia (Gema) spring into action, salvaging edible food before it meets an unnecessary fate in the landfill.
Through the MySaveFood initiative, in collaboration with the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corporation (SWCorp), they have since 2015 gathered untouched rice, packed noodles and unopened drinks to be redistributed to those in need.
Last year alone, the volunteers saved more than 60 tonnes of edible food waste at bazaars in seven states worth more than RM720,000 before they were discarded.
Edible food waste consists of food that is still safe to eat, while inedible food waste consists of peels, shells and bones which have to be discarded at landfills.
This Ramadan, as food waste continues to rise, Gema and SWCorp push forward with an urgent message: Think before you throw, because every meal saved is a meal served.
SWCorp stated that it could only currently work with seven states – namely Federal Territories, Perlis, Kedah, Pahang, Melaka, Negri Sembilan and Johor – as these have adopted the Solid Waste Management and Public Cleansing Act 2007 (Act 672).
Act 672 enables SWCorp and Gema to work closely with local government authorities, which handle these bazaars.
Gema committee member Mohammad Harith Mohd Tarik, 31, said that volunteers would start collecting unsold items from traders at 7.30pm, when people are breaking fast.
“We test the food and drinks with the see and smell method. The tasting, we would leave it to the recipients.
“However, as most of the food is fresh, they are still very much edible.
“We would start distributing by 8.30pm to those in need. Mostly, we get leftover drinks at bazaars and as they are already packed, it is easy to distribute.
“The food sent in bulk such as mee goreng and rice, we will pack and distribute to the poor and students who cannot afford to spend much on food.
“On average, one bazaar throws out almost 100kg of food daily. There are a few which can go up to 300kg,” said Mohd Harith, a software engineer, who has been with the project for three years now.
SWCorp chief executive officer Khalid Mohamed said that food waste in general had increased by 11.5% in the current Ramadan compared with last year, but the edible food waste had decreased.
“We have collaborations on saving edible food with many parties but the one with Gema is really ramped up during Ramadan at 127 bazaars in seven states nationwide,” said Khalid, when contacted.
“It is important for the public to realise we cannot keep filling the landfills and open more to accommodate waste as such waste releases the carbon dioxide into the air, leading to greenhouse gas emissions.”