KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 — The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy today called for taxation of condensed milk and sweetened creamers to curb diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Galen Centre chief executive Azrul Mohd Khalib said the country cannot continue treating such conditions only after people become sick, but must act proactively to reduce everyday exposure to cheap, concentrated sugar.
“Sweetened condensed milk is one of the most common and normalised sources of added sugar in the Malaysian diet,” Azrul said in a statement today.
“It is poured daily into teh tarik, kopi, Milo, chocolate drinks and other beverages, and is also widely used in desserts, roti canai, spreads, cendol, ais kacang, kueh, cakes and home cooking.”
He also pointed out that although Malaysia has implemented a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax on packaged drinks, condensed milk is often invisible in the final product.
“Consumers may not know how much has been added to their drink or food. A glass of teh tarik or kopi at a mamak stall, kopitiam or restaurant can contain several spoonfuls of condensed milk. This makes it a major and under-regulated route through which Malaysians consume sugar every day,” said Azrul.
According to the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023, about 15.6 per cent of adults in Malaysia have diabetes, 29.2 per cent have hypertension, 33.3 per cent have high cholesterol, and 54.4 per cent are overweight or obese.
“The caseload is also getting younger. Almost 2.3 million adults are living with three NCDs, while a significant number live with multiple overlapping risk factors,” said Azrul.
“Diabetes increases the risk of chronic kidney disease leading to kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, blindness, nerve damage and lower-limb amputation. Look into our community clinics, outpatient services, and hospital emergency rooms and you will realise that there is an ongoing cardiovascular renal metabolic syndrome crisis in Malaysia.
“The economic burden is already severe. It has been estimated that NCDs cost Malaysia RM64.2 billion in 2021, equivalent to 4.2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). This included RM12.4 billion in public health care costs and RM51.8 billion in productivity losses. That was five years ago.”
The Galen Centre recommended the introduction of a tiered excise tax on sweetened condensed milk, sweetened creamer, and similar high-sugar milk-based products, based on sugar content per 100g, under the upcoming 2027 federal budget.
“Products with higher sugar content should be taxed at a higher rate, while lower-sugar reformulated products should receive a lower rate. This would encourage manufacturers to reformulate, reduce sugar content, and offer healthier alternatives.
Azrul said this new tax should apply not only to retail cans and packets sold in supermarkets, but also to commercial and bulk supply used by restaurants, mamak outlets, kopitiams, cafés, bakeries, and food manufacturers.
Revenue from the tax should be ring-fenced for NCD prevention and control, he added. This should include diabetes screening, early treatment, public health campaigns, nutrition education, and support for small food operators.
