Costlier sugar a big bite against diabetes — Dr Jerip
KUCHING: Assistant Minister of Public Health DatukDrJeripSusil said the government’s decision to abolish 34 sen in sugar subsidy is to promote a healthy society.
He said the decision was to promote and create a mindset to reduce sugar intake.
“The decision (to abolish the subsidy) is one of the government’s thrusts to promote healthy society by creating a mindset to reduce sugar intake,” he said in a text message.
He was responding to Budget 2014, tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib yesterday, who announced that the 34 sen sugar subsidy is to be abolished effective today.
With the abolishment of the subsidy, the price of sugar now is RM2.84 per kg,up from the previous RM2.50.
DrJerip, who is a medical doctor by training, explained that it was a well established fact that too much sugar intake may lead to diabetes.
The Bengoh assemblyman noted that the abolishment shall definitely affect certain quarters of the industries in the confectionary and hospitality sector.
“It shall affect certain quarters of our industries, especially the confectionary and hospitality sector.
“However, in the long run it will save our country much more in terms of reducing our non-communicable disease,” he pointed out.
Source: Borneo Post Online
Published: 26 Oct 2013
