INSTEAD of spending heavily to subsidise sugar, it would be more prudent for the government to subsidise daily necessities such as chicken which is more practical and beneficial to the people, said an MCA leader.
The party’s Consumer Affairs Bureau chairman Tan Kok Eng said the government’s subsidy for sugar would indirectly and directly result in the drop in sugar price which in turn will encourage people to buy more food and beverage products containing high volumes of sugar.
Describing the increasing number of diabetes patients in the country worrisome, he noted that about 3.9 million adults are currently diagnosed with diabetes and experts had pointed out that this figure will force the government to spend nearly RM5 bil each year to treat the disease.
“The Barisan Nasional government had abolished subsidies for coarse and refined sugar as early as 2013. The past 10 years were an expedient time to encourage people to become accustomed to reducing their sugar intake,” Tan, who is also an MCA central committee member, remarked.
“However, the Madani government has acted the opposite. Since Nov 2023 it started providing a RM1.00 per kg subsidy for coarse grain and fine grain sugar, thereby disregarding the health of citizens.
“However, the government had also increased the tax on sodas from 40 sen to 50 sen per litre despite quietly subsidising sugar, which is a contradictory move.”
Tan said rather than spending hefty sums to subsidise sugar, the government would be seen as practical and working to benefit the rakyat by formulating targeted policies and subsidising necessities such as chicken for the common folk.
“Considering that the government lifted the ceiling price for chicken on Nov 1, 2023, the price of chicken has fluctuated between RM9.40 and RM10 per kilogramme,” he stated.
“This has caused an invariable spike to the rakyat’s daily cost of living. Therefore, the government should seriously consider replacing the sugar subsidy which detriments people’s health.
“Instead of implementing measures that are a slow and silent killer of people’s health, it would be prudent for the government to consider implementing measures that would benefit the people.”
Sugar prices in Malaysia are currently capped at RM2.85 per kg for coarse sugar and RM2.95 per kg for refined sugar. – Feb 28, 2024
Main pic credit: The Malaysian Reserve
