Some eateries in Ipoh have lowered the prices of their non-sugary beverages by 20sen. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN/The Star
Ipoh folk are split over the “Jom Kosong” campaign to reduce the use of sugar in drinks.
Launched by Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, the campaign aims to encourage people to consume less sugar and be more health-conscious.
While some are supportive of the campaign, many eatery operators in Ipoh, Perak, feel that the move was not viable and could impact business.
An Indian-Muslim eatery co-owner Shaik Jamaludin Mohd Yusoff said reducing the use of sugar would help his business as the ingredient was pricey.
Shaik Jamaludin says people should be educated on effects of excessive sugar consumption.
“I can buy sugar for my shop less frequently if people consume less sugar.
“But at the end of the day, it is up to the customers whether they want sugar in their drinks.
“There should be more awareness campaigns to reduce sugar consumption among the public,” he said.
He added that people should be educated on the dangers of excessive sugar consumption to health.
Shaik Jamaludin also suggested that the campaign be introduced in schools.
“Jom Kosong” was launched by Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh on Sept 11.
It follows the “War on Sugar” campaign by Health Ministry and the call by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to make healthier choices.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey in May this year, almost 3.6 million Malaysians, or one in six adults (15.6% of the population), had diabetes.
In 2011, 44.5% of the population were obese while in 2023, that figure increased to 54.4%.
The ministry has roped in the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) for the campaign.
The campaign will see food and retail businesses slowly introducing sugarless drink options in their menu at a price that is 20sen cheaper than the sweet option.
Lim Haw Wen, a spokesperson of a coffeeshop on Jalan Bandar Timah, said the initiative encouraged people to live healthier.
“I don’t believe a 20sen reduction will have much of an impact on our profit or operating costs,” he said.
Lim says the Jom Kosong campaign encourages people to live healthier.
A manager of a popular Indian-Muslim eatery on Jalan Dato Onn Jafaar, who declined to be named, supported the idea of the campaign and echoed Lim’s sentiments.
“It is a good move to help the public in making healthier choices,” she said.
She said her shop was already offering reduced prices for non-sugary drinks.
“Our teh-o (with sugar) is priced at RM1.20 while the same drink without sugar is RM1.
“The same goes for kopi-o kosong, which is priced at RM1 and RM1.20 for a cup of kopi-o,” she said.
“We have set an even bigger price gap for our barley drinks, at RM2.50 with sugar and RM2 without,” she said, noting that these changes were implemented after the Covid-19 pandemic to cope with the rising cost of raw ingredients.
Lower profit expected
However, not all business owners are on board with the campaign.
Coffeeshop owner Sam Thong is concerned that this would affect his business negatively.
“Even if we don’t add sugar, we still use condensed milk and the 20sen difference can have an impact on our profit.
“A cup of coffee with or without sugar is priced at RM2.50 because we use condensed milk.
“I think it will be hard to reduce the price further,” he said.
Thong said for other drinks such as barley and herbal teas, the price remained the same, regardless of sugar content.
“Barley or herbal tea is priced at RM2.20 with or without sugar,” he added.
Likewise, coffeeshop owner Ng Lai Yin said the 20sen reduction would impact her business.
“The amount (20sen) may not seem like much, but for a business, it adds up and affects profits,” she said, adding that a lot of customers were already opting for sugarless drinks such as kopi-o kosong (black coffee without sugar).
Several customers, however, are of the view that sugar-free drinks should be cheaper.
Mechanical engineer V. Yohen Nair believes that shops should price sugarless drinks lower than sugared ones.
“Since we are not consuming the product (sugar), why should it be the same price?” he asked, noting that more people were starting to become health conscious.
“I hope the campaign can also be implemented in schools, hospitals and universities to increase public awareness,” he added.
Haswin (left) and Yohen say people should understand why prices of non-sugary drinks are being reduced.
Yohen’s brother, Haswin, also a mechanical engineer, said the tendency to go for non-sugary drinks depended on age group.
“I believe that the younger generation has more knowledge about sugar consumption, compared to the elderly, who are more used to having sugar in their drinks every day.
“People should understand why prices are being reduced, not just see it as a little savings,” he pointed out.
Information technology specialist Aishah Aminuddin said the campaign was a good start.
“I think people will start opting for cheaper items even though it is only 20sen less,” she said.
University student Nur Arrisa Fatihah Mohd Rizal views the campaign as a positive move.
Aishah thinks people will start opting for cheaper items even though it’s only 20sen less.
“Most shops do not offer a reduction in price even when we ask for no sugar in our drinks.
“I think the campaign will spread awareness of sugar’s effects on health and encourage shop operators to reduce the prices for non-sugary beverages,” she said.
Better awareness needed
Endocrinologist Dr S. Tivya said she did not believe a reduction in non-sugary drink prices would have a significant impact on public health.
She said awareness and educating people about sugar intake was more crucial.
“I feel that it is not going to have a big impact as reducing 20sen is not going to make much of a difference.
“If the mindset doesn’t change in terms of sugar consumption and knowing what you are drinking in terms of calories and sugar intake, it is not going to make much of a difference.
“The real issue is a lack of education on the effects of sugar on the body.
“What we need is education about what sugar does to the body, how much sugar is in some beverages and the long-term effects of consuming sugary drinks,” she emphasised.
Some eatery operators say reducing sugar in drinks will lower business operating costs.
Dr Tivya said while the campaign was a good start, it must be coupled with efforts to educate children and adults about the health risks associated with sugary drinks and high carbohydrate intake.
She said many were still unaware that carbohydrates, not just sugary drinks, could cause spikes in blood sugar levels.
“A lot of people think only sugary drinks cause the blood sugar level to go up. But it is also about the kind of carbohydrates we consume.
“High-carb diets and sugary drinks can lead to serious health complications like diabetes,” she said, adding that she had seen cases of diabetes in patients as young as 11 years old.
“If adolescents are exposed to high-carb diets and plenty of sugary beverages, it will cause more complications.
Some eateries in Ipoh say they have already started giving a discount on sugar-free drinks.
“High sugar intake leads to insulin spikes, causing damage to different organs, including the eyes, kidneys and blood vessels,” she said, adding that people need balanced diets while controlling their intake of carbohydrates at the same time.
Dr Tivya said more effort was needed to educate children in schools, where sugary snacks and beverages are readily available.
“It is not just about making sugary drinks less available; it is about teaching consumers to know what they are drinking.
“Education should start from school so that children grow up understanding the difference between sugary and non-sugary beverages and the impact these choices have on their health.”
When contacted, Perak domestic trade, cooperatives, consumer affairs and Chinese new villages committee chairman Woo Kah Leong said there were currently no plans to implement the campaign at state-level.
Woo said Perak was only in talks with Malaysia Retail Chain Association and Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association on the matter.
“We are still trying to get their feedback on this.
“If we are to hold such campaigns, it will be on a voluntary basis.
“I hope that coffeeshops and Indian-Muslim eateries can support the campaign,” he said.
He added that eateries were not compelled to reduce the price of non-sugary beverages.
