PETALING JAYA: As the War on Sugar campaign goes full throttle, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is in the midst of firming up the list of sweetened items which will not be given a discount from Oct 1 under the Rahmah Madani programme.
“The ministry is finalising the list. Some examples are condensed milk, juice concentrates, carbonated drinks and others,” Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said when contacted.
Another campaign, known as Jom Kosong, has also been launched.
Fuziah said the campaign is voluntary, and as of Sept 11, five industry players have come on board.
ALSO READ: Display calorie content of food, eateries told
“The Jom Kosong campaign is voluntary. We call on the ministry’s strategic partners to participate,” she said.
“The first to welcome this were small and medium enterprises association (Samenta),” she said.
The Jom Kosong campaign will see food and retail businesses provide the option of sugar-free drinks. These drinks will be sold at cheaper prices.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said previously that the drive against excessive consumption of sugar aimed at preventing the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among Malaysians.
On Sept 10, Dzulkefly said a heavier sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax is on the cards, and it will be introduced in the upcoming Budget 2025.
Currently, an excise duty of 50 sen per litre is imposed on sugar-sweetened beverages, such as ready-to-drink packaged drinks with sugar exceeding 5g per 100ml as well as fruit or vegetable-based drinks with over 12g of sugar per 100ml.
The Health Ministry is also mulling a nutri-grade system for food and drinks.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 revealed that 3.6 million adults or 15.6% of the population in Malaysia have diabetes.
On Sept 8, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the people to reduce sugar consumption and take health literacy seriously.
