Malaysia Education Ministry to probe school meal tender allegations

The Malaysian Education Ministry is reviewing allegations of collusion and cartel activity regarding the second phase of the 2026 cooked food supply services (BMB) tender, which covers the 2027–2029 period. The investigation follows concerns raised by Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan, who urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe 213 contracts worth RM1.32 billion due to questions regarding bidders' registered addresses, financial capacity, and experience.

Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Wan Hashim Wan Rahim stated that the ministry is prepared to cooperate with the MACC to ensure the integrity of the procurement process. He noted that while 245 tenders were advertised, 242 were awarded, two were cancelled for hostel upgrades, and one was postponed.

Addressing discrepancies in contract values, Wan Hashim explained that costs vary based on student numbers and school categories. High-value contracts, reaching up to RM38.7 million, involve sports schools requiring specialized nutritional menus, with daily costs per student estimated between RM90.84 and RM92.93. In contrast, standard primary and secondary school contracts range from RM26.10 to RM31.65 per student per day.