00:00A health think tank has called for all licensed eateries in Malaysia to provide free drinking water.
00:06The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy said the requirements should cover restaurants, cafes, food courts, mamak shops, fast
00:14food outlets, and other licensed eateries.
00:17Galen Centre CEO Azrul Khalip described the proposal as a simple, low-cost public health measure to make plain water
00:25the default beverage choice.
00:26He said access to drinking water should not depend on whether customers buy bottled water, sweetened drinks, or hot beverages.
00:35Azrul said the lack of free drinking water often pushed customers towards sugary and high-calorie drinks, especially those who
00:42regularly eat out.
00:44Citing the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, he said one in five adults do not drink enough water daily,
00:51while more than half of Malaysian adults are overweight or obese.
00:55Azrul said free drinking water would not solve the non-communicable disease problem, but would send a clear public health
01:02signal that water should be the default beverage.
01:05Azrul urged the Health Ministry, Housing and Local Government Ministry, State Governments, and Local Councils to introduce the requirement through
01:13legislation, licensing conditions, or food establishment regulations.
01:17Radina Rahkamar, FMT.
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