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Free Malaysia Today
18-06-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Fix food policy now or face health crisis, says economist
Economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram speaking at EPF's International Social Wellbeing Conference in Kuala Lumpur today. KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia must urgently reform its food and nutrition policies, especially for young children, to improve long-term health and development, says economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram. Speaking at EPF's International Social Wellbeing Conference here today, the Khazanah Research Institute adviser said many government nutrition programmes were low in quality and did not meet basic dietary needs. He also criticised the government's reliance on market mechanisms like the sugar tax, saying these alone were insufficient. 'The sugar tax is not working well. We need real rules and changes in how people eat,' he said in his keynote speech for the session titled 'Living Longer: Is Malaysia Ready for the Challenges Ahead?' 'People must be encouraged to eat fresh, healthy food again. Not everything can be solved by taxes.' In 2019, Malaysia introduced a sugar tax of RM0.40 per litre for sweetened beverages which it raised to RM0.50 in 2024, with plans to hike it to RM0.90 this year. While the tax has led to some product reformulation, its impact on public health remains under debate. Jomo described Malaysia's surging diabetes rates as a serious warning sign, saying prevalence had tripled since the 1980s, with nearly one in four adults now living with the disease. 'This shows that our past health campaigns have failed. We must act before it gets worse,' he said. He cited the 1970s village midwife programme as an example of an effective, low-cost public health policy that reduced maternal and child mortality but was never scaled up. 'These ideas worked well before. But we didn't build on them,' he said. He urged the government to adopt a 'whole-of-government and whole-of-society' approach to issues such as poor nutrition, ageing, and unequal access to care. 'This should not be led by companies trying to sell products,' he said. 'We need to talk about real solutions for everyone's health and well-being.'
Daily Express
18-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Express
Fix food policy now or face health crisis, says economist
Published on: Wednesday, June 18, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 18, 2025 By: Pan Eu Joe, FMT Text Size: Economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram speaking at EPF's International Social Wellbeing Conference in Kuala Lumpur today. Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia must urgently reform its food and nutrition policies, especially for young children, to improve long-term health and development, says economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram. Speaking at EPF's International Social Wellbeing Conference here today, the Khazanah Research Institute adviser said many government nutrition programmes were low in quality and did not meet basic dietary needs. Advertisement He also criticised the government's reliance on market mechanisms like the sugar tax, saying these alone were insufficient. 'The sugar tax is not working well. We need real rules and changes in how people eat,' he said in his keynote speech for the session titled 'Living Longer: Is Malaysia Ready for the Challenges Ahead?' 'People must be encouraged to eat fresh, healthy food again. Not everything can be solved by taxes.' In 2019, Malaysia introduced a sugar tax of RM0.40 per litre for sweetened beverages which it raised to RM0.50 in 2024, with plans to hike it to RM0.90 this year. While the tax has led to some product reformulation, its impact on public health remains under debate. Jomo described Malaysia's surging diabetes rates as a serious warning sign, saying prevalence had tripled since the 1980s, with nearly one in four adults now living with the disease. 'This shows that our past health campaigns have failed. We must act before it gets worse,' he said. He cited the 1970s village midwife programme as an example of an effective, low-cost public health policy that reduced maternal and child mortality but was never scaled up. 'These ideas worked well before. But we didn't build on them,' he said. He urged the government to adopt a 'whole-of-government and whole-of-society' approach to issues such as poor nutrition, ageing, and unequal access to care. 'This should not be led by companies trying to sell products,' he said. 'We need to talk about real solutions for everyone's health and well-being.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Asean must find its own path, not mimic EU, says economist
Woo Wing Thye urged Asean member states to set aside long-standing historical grievances in favour of shared economic and geopolitical interests. PETALING JAYA : Asean must forge its own path towards integration instead of mimicking the European Union, says economist Woo Wing Thye. The visiting professor at the Universiti Malaya Institute for Advanced Studies said Asean's strength lies in practical cooperation, tailored to the region's unique context, not in replicating foreign models. 'We need to focus on what is achievable within our region, starting with a coalition of willing and capable countries,' said Woo during a forum at Universiti Malaya today. He urged member states to set aside long-standing historical grievances in favour of shared economic and geopolitical interests, warning that internal divisions would only weaken Asean's standing on the world stage. 'If Asean does not act collectively, it will not be taken seriously by the major powers,' he said, adding regional unity is essential to navigate growing global tensions and ensure Asean's continued relevance in international affairs. The forum also touched on the broader geopolitical landscape, with several panellists noting the decline of US global dominance and the emergence of a multipolar order. Fellow panellist and professor emeritus at Universiti Malaya Jomo Kwame Sundaram said US global dominance is waning, paving the way for a more multipolar world shaped by rising powers and shifting alliances. He said the growth of minilateralism – international cooperation involving smaller coalitions of states – as well as the revival of the Non-Aligned Movement reflected a broader move towards rethinking global governance frameworks. Malaysian Economic Association vice-president Evelyn Devadason said the outdated global system no longer reflects today's multipolar realities and must be rebuilt with leadership from middle powers in the global South. She said future alliances may cut across traditional blocs, forming new governance structures that prioritise regional balance and non-Western perspectives. Nungsari Ahmad Radhi, chairman of Khazanah Research Institute said growing distrust over the weaponisation of the US dollar will further accelerate shifts toward multilateralism and regional cooperation. Last week, investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said discussions between Malaysia and the US regarding the latter's 'reciprocal' tariffs had so far proceeded smoothly, with many issues resolved. He said others require further scrutiny, particularly those related to the country's strategic sectors. He also said the easing of US-China trade tensions will help soften the impact of tariffs on the global economy.
