Stop Subsidy to reduce Sugar Usage

Government planning to end sugar subsidy to promote healthy living

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government may remove its subsidy on sugar as a way to get Malaysians to become more healthy.

The removal of the subsidy could increase the price of sugar by almost 70%, and this should discourage people from consuming so much of it.

Currently, the Government spends about RM720mil a year subsidising sugar.

The move has been proposed by various consumer groups.

The National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2006 revealed that 43.1% of Malaysian adults were overweight or obese, double the number from a decade ago.

Some 25% of deaths in government hospitals were due to circulatory diseases and strokes linked to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar content and obesity.

Stopping the subsidy for sugar will to promote healthy lifestyle. Whether will they use less sugar or not is just a perception. It is not easy to change overnight for someone who loves a sweeter coffee that those bitter ones. It takes time and determination. I change mine 3 years ago. Today it is no soft drink, low sugar coffee or tea and milder taste food for me after operation. 
In current bad economical situation, an increase in sugar price will definite affect those lowly income group further whether they are using sugar less or not. Those unethical trader of food and drinks that contain sugar will definite raise they prices as the cost has gone up, regardless whether they sweet one or not . We consumer will definite need to face another small inflation.
The 760mil was spend on sugar subsidy yearly is either pay by the Government or our pocket directly. After Government monies come from the Rakyat. I think the subsidy is not a good things in the first place as it create a burden to Government budget and make us too dependent to subsidy. But the subsidize must be done in stages to avoid unacceptable inflation.
Lets reduce sugar intake regardless there is a subsidy or not. Live healthy.