Battling diabetes: Govt events to be less sweet

Due to the alarming number of diabetes cases in Malaysia, the government has decided to cut down on the use of sugar in its events.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said sugar will be decreased by 50 percent while drinks will be served without sugar.

“One of the government’s efforts that started today (is after) the cabinet decided that all future government events will reduce the consumption of sugar by 50 percent and all drinks will be prepared without added sugar.

“So we will reduce the use of sugar in all government events including meetings,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya this afternoon.

He said diabetes is prevalent at rates of 3.2 percent for Malaysians aged 18 to 29, 6.5 percent for 30 to 39, 15.2 percent for those 40 to 49, 28.8 percent for 50 to 59 and 38 percent for those aged 60 and above.

Tackle problem urgently

The statistics are from the Health Ministry’s National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023.

“This means that the problem of diabetes, which is a non-communicable disease, needs to be dealt with urgently,” said Fahmi.

The minister also asked the media personnel present whether the drinks served to them before the press conference had tasted sweet.

When he received responses in the affirmative, he quipped: “Too sweet? Okay never mind, I just announced it.

“So God willing, next week, the sweetness is in smiles and not in the drinks,” he added.

Yesterday, health portal CodeBlue reported that the Health Ministry is pushing to raise the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages to 20 percent as part of its “war on sugar” campaign.

According to the report, Malaysia has an excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages, specifically ready-to-drink packaged sweetened drinks such as beverages with sugar exceeding 5g per 100ml and fruit juice or vegetable-based drinks with over 12g of sugar per 100ml.

This includes soft drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened tea or coffee, flavoured milk, fruit juices, as well as flavoured syrups and concentrates.

However, the current sugar tax does not apply to freshly made drinks.

Companies that cut sugar will get 'healthier choice' label - Dzulkefly

‘Less sugar, lower price’ campaign: Food items could cost less - group

Expert: Govt intervention needed to ensure reduced intake of salt, sugar