MALAYSIA joins a handful of other Asean countries to impose a soda tax to discourage the high consumption of sugar.

Starting April 1, 40 sen will be imposed for every litre of drinks containing sugar or sweetener levels above a prescribed limit, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said today when tabling Budget 2019.

The tax will apply to drinks with sugar or sweeteners above 5g per 100ml, and to fruit and vegetable juices with more than 12g of sugar per 100ml.

Other countries in Asean that already have a soda tax are Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Brunei.

The tax is also being considered by other Asean neighbours.

Malaysia has the highest rate of diabetes in Asia and one of the highest in the world, health experts have said, with 3.5 million cases last year, according to the International Diabetes Federation. – November 2, 2018.