MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release
The Flavours of Prosperity
BERNAS introduces three varieties of healthy rice to the Home for Special People Cheras
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 February 2019: In conjunction with the Lunar New Year celebration, Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) is celebrating its IKHLAS Chinese New Year programme from Home For Special People in Cheras, Selangor. The home which was established in 2009 is currently caring for 46 underprivileged residents ranging between 4 to 47 years old.
Variations of Rice to Boost Child’s Nutrition
The Lunar New Year is celebrated with a feast of foods that symbolize prosperity, good luck and new beginnings for the year ahead. Accordingly, to further enrich the celebration, BERNAS has taken the initiative to introduce the benefits of three different types of rice to the residents of this Home which are suitable for their daily consumption. They are Basmati Rice (Sella), Steam Ponni Rice and Bario Rice.
“A balanced diet, with good nutrition is important for the growth of the people with special condition. Therefore, we took this opportunity to introduce three types of rice which are considered to be appropriate in terms of the texture and nutrients that suits the needs of these children in their daily consumption,” says Norliza Mat Isa, Head Corporate Communications Department BERNAS.
“Every type of rice has its own uniqueness, for example Basmati Rice (Sella) helps to combat malnutrition and alleviate various deficiencies. The process of milling for this type of rice involves gentle parboiling, which involves steaming or boiling of paddy, drying and polishing the rice to preserve the nutrients.” she added.
We have made careful and detailed considerations on the types of rice that will be introduced to the residents’ of Home for Special People. “As most of the residents have feeding challenges, we are introducing Fragrant rice, Basmati Rice (Sella), Steam Ponni and the famous Bario Rice from Sarawak that have a soft, fluffy and smooth texture. Furthermore Fragrant rice, Steam Ponni and Bario Rice are easily digested making it suitable for the children and elderly with special needs,” she said.
An annual initiative under the BERNAS Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, IKHLAS Festive is one of BERNAS’ CSR commitments in giving back and reaching out to the community, especially in the area where BERNAS operates. Furthermore, the programme aims to foster the essence of this festival and sharing the joy with the less fortunate.
As the industry leader that manage the nation’s staple food, our concern and priority has always been to ensure the welfare of the less fortunate. Besides fostering closer ties between BERNAS and the community, it is hoped that this humble gesture of goodwill will cultivate love and care, as well as giving them a memorable experience.