MBPJ Launches Vegetarian Monday

IN an effort to encourage its staff to eat more vegetables and fruits and practice a healthy lifestyle, the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has launched its state-wide Vegetarian Diet campaign in conjunction with �The Green Monday Project�.
The campaign entails providing vegetarian food every Monday at the MBPJ cafeteria.
This initiative will also be carried out at other local councils in Selangor in stages. �We are honoured to be the first local council to start this campaign in Selangor to encourage our staff and civil servants in the state to eat healthily and create awareness about the benefits of a vegetarian diet,� said Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman during the launch in Kelana Jaya recently.
Studies have shown that most diseases today are lifestyle-related diseases caused by unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyles. �Obesity is on the rise. Malaysia has the highest obesity rate in Southeast Asia and is sixth in Asia Pacific. People are consuming high amounts of calories and not getting much exercise, which leads to obesity and will eventually result in diseases such as diabetes, sleep apnea, gout, cancer, osteoporosis and heart attacks. We want to highlight that vegetarian food can be tasty too and beneficial for one�s overall health,� added Roslan.
Selangor local government committee chairman Ronnie Liu, who was also present, said it was important that civil servants took the initiative to practise a healthier lifestyle.
�We will also include healthier food options during council meetings. Once the other local councils are ready, we will launch their programmes.
To go for green has so many advantages, not only in health benefits but also for the environment as well. It won�t be easy but we will start slowly,� he said.
Liu added they have found a sponsor to give out 200 pax of free vegetarian meals on Mondays for six months.
�It is still on-going so we will make an official announcement soon. But we also encourage other companies or societies which would like to increase sponsorship vegetarian meals on Mondays to come forward and contact us.
�We hope this campaign will become bigger and will encourage more people to eat more vegetables. We have a duty to play in the community so leadership by example is essential,� said Liu.