Do more than just a sugar tax for real change, say experts

Free Malaysia Today

The head of a private doctors group says small-scale measures must not divert focus from systemic reforms.   Read More: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/12/17/do-more-than-just-a-sugar-tax-for-real-change-say-experts/   Laporan Lanjut: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2024/12/17/usaha-menyeluruh-untuk-perubahan-sebenar-bukan-sekadar-cukai-gula-kata-pakar/   Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com  Follow FMT on Facebook: https://bit.ly/49JJoo5  Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM  Follow FMT on X: https://bit.ly/48zARSW  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/48Cq76h  Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3uKuQFp  Follow FMT Berita on TikTok: https://bit.ly/48vpnQG  Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/42VyzMX  Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/42YytEb  Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/42WrsUj  Follow FMT on WhatsApp: https://bit.ly/49GMbxW  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Download FMT News App:  Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46  App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ  Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP   #FMTNews #Sugar #Tax #SoftDrinks

Transcript

00:00It is not enough for the government to just propose a higher tax on sugary drinks.

00:07Experts said such a small-scale measure must be accompanied by systemic reforms in the

00:12nation's fight against chronic diseases.

00:14Dr. G. Shanmuganathan, head of a federation of private doctors, said pushing targeted

00:19and evidence-based campaigns on nutrition would be more impactful.

00:24He called for a redesign on food labels to make nutritional information more accessible

00:28as he believed the current designs to be too technical.

00:32Shanmuganathan said many are unaware that carbohydrate-rich food like rice and bread

00:37also contribute to diabetes.

00:39He said this knowledge gap highlighted the need for comprehensive education campaigns

00:43that prioritize preventive health and evidence-based messaging.

00:47Meanwhile, Dr. Moi Fung Ming of University of Malaya said the health ministry should

00:52not only target sugary drinks but also ultra-processed foods high in calories, fat and sodium.

00:59She said the revenue generated from the tax could be used to subsidize healthier foods

01:03like fruits and vegetables.

01:05When tabling the 2025 budget in October, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced a tax increase

01:10on sugary drinks from 50 to 90 cent per liter beginning January next year.

01:16Dhanusha Jareza, FMT News.

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