Cut down on sugar to fight hike in price, KPDNKK urges (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatoves and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has advised consumers to cut down on sugar consumption as a way to fight the recent hike in the sweetener.
He said the average Malaysian consumed about 25kg of sugar every year, way higher than the World Health Organisation's recommendation of only 9kg per year.
He said the 11sen hike effective March 1 was merely an increase of 3.8% from the previous price.
"We should in fact reduce the amount of sugar we take," he said.
"If we can reduce the usage of sugar in all of our food intake, the increase of price by 3.8% would not bring a significant impact on the household budget," he told parliament during the Minister's Question Time.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (BN - Sabak Bernam) who wanted to know what impact the sugar price increase had on the food and beverages industry in Malaysia and how it would affect the consumers.
The new price of coarse granulated white sugar effective March 1 was RM2.95 per kg, an increase from the previous RM2.84 per kg.
Hamzah said the price increase was contributed by the exchange rate of the ringgit, as the government relied 100% on import of raw sugar for the country's supply.
Meanwhile Agriculture and Agro-based Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek told the house the government could not regulate the price of mackerel fish despite reports of price hike in the market.
"In economics, it would be better if we reduce intervention and regulation and allow for the market to decide. If we place too much control, it would lead to abuse," he said.