THE government’s plan to impose higher tax in its “war against sugar” has received support from the public.
Businessman Tan Choo Oo said the move could incentivise people to cut down on their sugar intake, which in turn could reduce the prevalence of diabetes in the long run.
“It has become part of Malaysian culture to have excessive sugar, not just in our drinks but also in our food.
“This has to change and I believe that imposing higher tax on sugar is one of the ways to bring about this change.
“Of course, this (higher sugar tax) alone is not enough.
“It should go hand in hand with awareness campaigns and school programmes that highlight the dangers of sugar consumption,” he told StarMetro.
Tan, 62, said he started cutting down his sugar intake more than 10 years ago to maintain good health.
Tan: The move can incentivise people to cut down on their sugar intake.
“As we grow older, we need to be more aware of what we put into our body.
“I decided to avoid sugary drinks and not to put sugar in my tea and coffee.
“It felt odd at first but I eventually got used to it.”
Echoing a similar sentiment was housewife Juriah Abdullah, 52, who said the sugar tax move might be more effective now, given the rise in the cost of living.
“Even if it is just a few sen, it will still be quite impactful as we try to cope with higher prices overall.
“I see it as a good initiative, especially as it has brought some positive improvements in the past,” she said, adding that she was also trying to reduce her sugar intake.
Businessman K. Prakash, 43, said it was a good move.
“I welcome the initiative as it shows the government’s commitment to addressing the issue, but I am not sure if it can be as effective as we hope it will be.
Juriah: The move may be more effective now, given the rise in living costs.
“I believe that those with a sweet tooth will not mind forking out a few extra sen to satisfy their cravings,” he said.
In August, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said Malaysia had the highest prevalence of diabetes in South-East Asia.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 results, released in May, almost 3.6 million Malaysians, or one in six adults (15.6%), are diabetic.
The same report also found that over half a million Malaysians live with four major non-communicable diseases (NCD) or conditions, namely diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity.
On Sept 10, Dr Dzulkefly said a further hike to the sugar tax would be announced in the upcoming Budget 2025.
He said the move came following the success in reducing sugar consumption by 9.25% nationwide after a 10sen increase in the sugar-sweetened beverage tax under Budget 2024 to 50sen per litre.
Dr Dzulkefly added that the second tax hike was to help contain NCD among Malaysians.
