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THERE are about three million obese Malaysians – and the number is increasing – while there are about five million individuals who suffer from varying degrees of diabetes. Malaysia is ranked sixth in the Asia-Pacific region for obesity and tops the list in South-East Asia for both obesity and diabetes. To address this issue, the government will be imposing a sugar tax from April this year, aiming to reduce consumers’ sugar consumption. The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) supports the move. Yet, tax alone will not change eating behaviours.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been promoting taxes on sugary drinks, as over-consumption of sugar is a major contributor to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. Sugary drinks are a major source of sugar in the diet and its consumption is increasing in most countries, especially among children and adolescents.

According to WHO, taxes on sugary drinks help reduce consumption and prevent obesity. Furthermore, there is substantial savings on healthcare costs, as diseases associated with high sugar consumption – such as high blood pressure, diabetes and tooth decay – are reduced.

Apart from reducing the con-

THE Look East Policy enunciated by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the end of 1981 and elaborated on in early 1982 has run a course of more than three decades with, regrettably, very little to show for it. The anticipated renaissance of thought, industry, creativity, reinvention, research and development has not happened.

In the endeavour to emulate the work ethos of the East Asian countries, we overlooked some vital aspects of their disciplined society and governance systems. Countries in East Asia, in spite of their ageing population, continue to power ahead while Malaysia lags behind in almost every indicator in the socioeconomic index. Apart from hard work and giving free rein to private enterprise, these countries place significant value on honesty, integrity and mutual respect.

These countries respect the separation of powers and the rule of law, which has been constantly reiterated by our prime minister since his government came into sumption of sugar, another positive effect is that food manufacturers would reduce the use of sugar in their food and drinks and seek to provide healthier food choices to consumers. In Britain, for example, when the authorities announced in 2016 that a sugar tax would be implemented on April 6, 2018, some food manufacturers began to change recipes ahead of the tax so that the sugar content would be lower.

Apart from tax, the consumer’s environment also needs to be changed. There needs to be stricter power on May 10, 2018.

Two territories that assign overarching significance to the rule of law are Hong Kong and the Republic of Korea (ROK), and I am somewhat familiar with them.

There is constant contestation between private advantage or profit and public interest, and East Asia has recognised this conflict for more than four decades.

Even before Deng Xiaoping’s “Four Modernisations” programme was announced in 1978, Hong Kong, following the sensational scandal involving a senior police officer, Peter Godber, established its Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). Since its establishment, Hong Kong has cleared itself of corruption to a large extent after being subject to more than a century of this scourge.

In the ROK, anti-corruption and pro-democracy steps have claimed regulation to reduce the marketing of unhealthy products, especially to children. Unhealthy food marketing should be banned on children’s TV channels and advertising time limited in the normal channels to only late at night. In public places such as schools, government offices and hospitals, the marketing and sale of sugary drinks should be entirely eliminated.

For consumers of pre-packaged foods who wish to make informed dietary choices, such as identifying which foods are high in fat, salt and sugar, or choosing the healthi- the lives and reputation of presidents, prime ministers and other high level officials. Currently, a former chief supreme court judge is under suspicion of abuse of office, including influencing judgements by other judges, showing favouritism and promoting herd mentality among the top levels of the judiciary.

The courts are an important component of any functioning democracy. With the recent radical changes in the executive and legislative branches in Malaysia, it is only logical that both Parliament and the Executive, assisted by the media, reflect the will of the people and provide proper scrutiny and oversight on the workings of our judiciary.

A serving Court of Appeal judge recently made a startling statement that three Court of Appeal judges of the highest probity were not elevated to the Federal Court est option from a range of pre-packaged foods, the nutrition information provided in the packaging is key. Labelling of foods needs to be simplified. The government should impose “traffic light” labelling so that consumers can easily identify the healthy foods from those with excessive sugar, salt or sodium. Thus, Fomca is calling for nutrition labelling that helps consumers to quickly and easily interpret the nutritional value of packaged goods.

Finally, there needs to be extensive mass media campaigns to highlight the risks of unhealthy food and the benefits of healthy eating. Consumer education should be targeted at school, work places, youth and women groups and community groups to promote healthy eating behaviours and healthy lifestyles. Clearly, apart from just taxation, a comprehensive approach needs to be undertaken to promote healthy living.

Fomca also hopes revenue collected from the sugar tax will be channelled into healthy living campaigns aimed at every level of society.

DATUK DR PAUL SELVA RAJ Secretary General Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations

prior to their retirement because they were not of a particular ilk. If this is true, the matter should be investigated in an appropriate manner.

Given the utmost gravity of some issues that judges are called on to adjudicate, herd mentality, obedience and conformity to customary protocol and hierarchical norms are the most dangerous qualities a judge can have.

Judges who provide dissenting views on sound authority should not be censured but be commended instead.

We should seriously Look East and emulate those highly successful East Asian countries in a wholesome rather than selective way. Dissent and diversity in our courts and country should be celebrated.

DATUK M. SANTHANANABAN Kajang