FOOD supplies for some Pahang secondary religious schools were found not to have halal certification, states the Auditor-General's Report 2011.

The report added, even in certain cases where the supplies had halal certification, it did not possess the official halal stamp issued by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim).

"Table 7 of the contract condition states that food stuff such as milk, juice, flower, vinegar and cooking oil must have halal labels issued by Jakim and are not expired," it said.

This was based on an audit of some 18 secondary religious schools for food contracts between 2009 to 2011. The allocation for 2010 to 2011 was RM36.60 million for some 7,990 students.

More serious was a check on the schools' stocks which found some food supplies such as orange juice and margarine had expired.

The report also raise the issue of hygiene as the kitchen of some of the schools were infested with flies and their floors had not been washed for a long time.

Oily food for old folks

Meanwhile, in Sabah, the report found that food for three old folks homes managed by the General Welfare Services Department in the state did not follow the dietary guidelines.

A survey to the Sri Harapan old folks home in Sandakan found that fatty and oily food were served to the senior citizens.

"The residents at the old folks home ,who suffer from diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia and gout, must abide by the dietary recommendations of the medical officer," the report says.

In its recommendations, the report urged that food at the old folks home follow the dietary guidelines and schedule on top of enduring systematic medication for its residents.

- Malaysiakini

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