KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians are facing a health crisis of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), a report by the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 says.
Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said more than two million people are living with three types of NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol.
They welcome the Health Minister's call for urgent action on sugar consumption to reduce diabetes among the population.
To curb diabetes, its chief executive officer Azrul Mohd Khalib believes removing sugar from the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 would be a more effective measure to reduce diabetes than implementing a sugar content grading system.
He said price controls on sugar contribute significantly to excessive consumption of food.
"The price of sugar is currently being kept artificially low and under the ceiling due to incentive payments made by the government to the sugar industry.
"This resulted in Malaysia, a non-sugar producing country, having among the lowest sugar prices in the world.
"It does not make sense to go to war against sugar while at the same time subsidising it. These incentive payments should be stopped," he said in a statement today.
With diabetes costing over RM3 billion annually, alongside other cardio-renal-metabolic diseases such as kidney disease, Azrul said that the country cannot afford half measures.
Although a recent proposal to ban 24-hour eateries faced strong opposition, he noted that the food culture in Malaysia, particularly nighttime consumption of high-calorie food, is detrimental to health.
"Studies have shown that eating at night leads to twice as much weight gain, or 500 more calories per day, than those who limit their eating to daytime hours.
"When combined with sedentary lifestyles, it is no surprise that at least half of the population is either obese or heading there.
"The costs of treating the resulting medical conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, are already costing billions each year," he said.
While banning 24-hour eateries might be impractical, Azrul suggested the government impose a 10 per cent midnight surcharge on all food and beverages sold in licensed food establishments between midnight and 6am.
He proposed that the funds collected be allocated for the treatment of non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, hypertension and cancer.
Regarding the upcoming implementation of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, Azrul is calling for the government to consider increasing the excise duties on cigarettes and tobacco products, which have remained unchanged since 2015, and to limit nicotine vaping to two per cent.
He suggested an excise tax rate of RM0.77 per stick, equating to 61 per cent of the retail price, which could generate additional tax revenue of RM771.8 million.
"The government must place a hard ceiling on nicotine vape at two per cent to manage addiction and be in line with the practices of other nations. This is not an area where we want to be outstanding.
"It is sobering to note that Malaysia spends an estimated RM16 billion annually treating smoking-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and lung cancer.
"How will we continue to pay for the treatment of these chronic diseases which will last for years and cost billions?" he questioned.