Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Youth Council (MBS) has welcomed the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry’s (KPDN) initiative to strengthen food bank programmes through tax deduction incentives for donors, as announced in Budget 2027.
MBS President Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan said the initiative announced by KPDN Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali was a positive step towards encouraging greater participation by the corporate sector and the community in assisting those in need, particularly students facing cost-of-living pressures.
“MBS supports KPDN’s efforts to strengthen the food assistance ecosystem through a more structured and sustainable approach. This initiative not only helps ease the burden on students, but also encourages collective social responsibility,” he said.
He said the RM30,000 grant awarded to the Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) Student Consumer Movement to provide facilities for managing food assistance also highlighted the importance of strengthening the capacity of higher education institutions to implement such programmes.
Abqaree said that for students in Sabah, particularly those from rural areas and districts outside major urban centres, the cost of living involved not only food but also transportation, accommodation and educational expenses.
“Food security among students should be viewed as part of the education wellbeing agenda. We want to ensure that the challenges of the cost of living do not become a barrier to learning and the development of young people’s potential,” he said.
MBS proposed that the food bank network be expanded gradually to other higher education institutions in Sabah through collaboration among KPDN, educational institutions, the corporate sector and youth organisations.
Abqaree said the involvement of youth organisations and student movements could also strengthen volunteer management, donation coordination and aid distribution.
“MBS is ready to be KPDN’s strategic partner in expanding the volunteerism and consumer advocacy network, particularly to ensure that the benefits of this initiative reach more students in need.
“We want to build a support ecosystem that not only provides temporary assistance, but also strengthens the wellbeing and resilience of students on a continuous basis,” he said.
