STARTING from the next parliamentary session in Malaysia, Wednesdays will be designated as “sugar-free days,” according to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
“Every Wednesday in the coming Parliament meeting will be a sugar-free day. The ruling covers all who are in Parliament including the media,” he said when speaking to reporters after an engagement session with the media in Parliament on Sept 25.
“If you want to bring in tea, you have to see if there is sugar in it or not. The move is being done so that we will become a more healthy society,” he added.
The new rule, aimed at promoting a healthier society, will apply to all in Parliament, including the media, and prohibit adding sugar to drinks like teh tarik.
This move aligns with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s call to address Malaysia’s high diabetes rates and improve health literacy.
Additionally, Johari will continue enforcing mandatory health screenings for MPs, noting that many have discovered health issues through these checks, emphasising the importance of MPs staying fit to serve their constituencies.
The Malaysian government has decided to reduce sugar consumption at all official functions following the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, which revealed that one in six Malaysian adults suffer from diabetes.
On August 1, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced that, effective immediately, government events will cut sugar in drinks by 50% and serve beverages without added sugar.
Despite a slight reduction in the diabetes rate since 2019, 3.6 million Malaysian adults still live with the condition.
Additionally, the government has raised the sugar tax and introduced a “healthier choice” logo for food and drinks to address rising diabetes and obesity rates. – Sept 29, 2024
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