KUALA LUMPUR: A public health expert has echoed the call for a taxes to be imposed on unhealthy foods as Malaysians are increasingly facing a non-communicable disease (NCD) health crisis.
Datuk Dr Zainal Ariffin Omar said the move to introduce a tax for unhealthy foods is also in line with the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) to encourage the consumption of healthy food to overcome the problem of NCD among the world's population.
He said the government needs to address the issue thoroughly, as the results of the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2023 show that Malaysia now has the highest rate of diabetes in the Western Pacific region and among the highest in the world.
"Now is the right time (to implement a tax on unhealthy food) because based on the NHMS 2023, the number of people living with NCDs is very worrying. More than two million suffer from three types of NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol while another half a million suffer from four NCDs with the addition of obesity.
"Even though it might be a little difficult, the government should do something from now on, but there needs to be careful planning and the implementation should be done in stages because we understand that the culture of our society really loves its food.
"So the implementation should not be too drastic, instead it may be possible to start with a tax on foods high in sugar, followed by foods with calories and fat because these three elements are harmful to health and contributors to NCDs," he said.
He was commenting on a recommendation of the Consumer Association of Penang that the government implement a tax on unhealthy food to curb NCDs and other health problems.
Dr. Zainal Ariffin said the government also needs to offer special incentives and assistance to support entrepreneurs selling nutritious and healthy food to Malaysians.
"For example, the government may give contracts or business opportunities to entrepreneurs at any event to encourage them to supply healthy food to the community.
"The government can offer raw material incentives because ingredients for preparing healthy and nutritious food such as gluten-free flour and organic-based ingredients which are low in calories and sugar can be expensive," he said.
"In addition, the government needs to be stricter by controlling imported food such as processed food from abroad, which should not be allowed to be marketed in Malaysia," he said.
On Thursday, CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader called on the government to introduce a tax on unhealthy foods in an effort to curb health problems including obesity and other NCDs.
Mohideen said increased marketing of ultra-processed food and drink products (UPF) had an impact on weight gain and the risk of several NCDs such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and cancer.