PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim – in his call on the people to reduce their sugar intake to avoid diabetes – today instructed all ministries to practice reducing sugar consumption in every gathering and ordered a campaign to reduce it in their diet.

“Reports show that the highest incidence of diabetes in Asia is in Malaysia… this is not the Health Ministry’s issue alone.

“We should be a healthy country because Islam emphasises the need to look after our health, but Malaysia is number one in terms of disease, due to consuming excessive sugar,” he said.

In his speech, when officiating the Rural Entrepreneurs Carnival KUD@Putrajaya 2023 today, Anwar also asked entrepreneurs to help ensure controlled sugar consumption.

“I am upset that Malaysia, with the awareness of Islam, has high diabetes (cases). This means awareness of the importance of health is not controlled,” he said.

On Thursday, Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the findings of the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 found that the prevalence of diabetes in Malaysia is the highest in Southeast Asia, recording a significant increase from 11.2% in 2011 to 18.3% in 2019.

Dr Zaliha said her ministry was set to launch a sugar advocacy plan in the near future. – Bernama, November 25, 2023