KUALA LUMPUR: The government will expand the excise duty of sugared premixed drinks such as malt, coffee and tea, chocolate or cocoa-based beverages.
Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the move is to encourage a healthy lifestyle and address non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity in the country.
"The government has agreed to continue the Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat.
"When meeting with Dr Shantesh Kumar, the young man has raised the issue of rare diseases.
"Therefore, the government will (also) strengthen the clinical management of Rare Diseases in Malaysia such as lysosomal," he told the Dewan Rakyat today in tabling the 2022 Budget here, today.
Zafrul said the government also proposed to expand the excise duty towards nicotine-based liquid or gel products used for electronic cigarettes and vape.