I am appalled by the decision of Health Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek to ban fast food ad on TV in order to curb the "rise of lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes and hypertension" among kids and the Malaysian public in general. The Malaysian Medical Association is also recommending 'sinful' tax on food of this kind. Read more:
- Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia Mahu Haramkan Iklan Makanan Segera Di Media
- RTM sedia haramkan iklan makanan segera
The decision shows how we always got it wrong on not tackling the root of the problems when it comes to promote better lifestyle. These are probable root causes in this matter (not comprehensive):
- The unhealthy/excessive trans fat or other forms of fat intake, sugar, salt in food
- Frequent food intakes
- Late food intake
- Higher sugar level in food and beverages
- Lack of exercise
There are few drawbacks from the move on banning fast food advertisements:
- Local media industry will be impacted by this move. They are lots of ads money lost from the banned of tobbacco products ads and sports sponsorship
- Does the ban of tobacco products on TV actually reduce the numbers of smokers?
- Does instant food such as Maggi Mee, Nescafe 3-in-1, Coffee-mate, Ali Cafe 3-in-1, etc. fall under the same category? If the government thinks otherwise, I think they are making bigger mistake!
- Hypothetically, if fast food ban will improve our lifestyle; let's consider these:
- Motorcycles ads should be banned as many motorists are killed on the road every year.
- "In Malaysia, about 60% of traffic fatalities involve motorized 2-wheelers" - Asian Development Bank
- However, hats off to the Transportation Ministry on the right campaigns on the importance of helmets and stop at red lights
- Credit cards ads should be banned as the nation relies more on plastic money and becoming a "debt nation"
- Only thin models or personalities are allowed to appear on TV as they are good role model for our children healthy lifestyle (and thus limiting TV appearances of horizontally challenged people)
- Food outlets such as Mamak's 24-hr joint should be closed by 10 pm
- Government should no longer serve food during festive season's open houses as they promote excessive food intake
- Ban of buffet in hotels or restaurants during Ramadhan for the unhealthy amount of food served
- Does this also apply to our local grown food operators; nasi lemak at Marrybrown; unhealthy-fattening cheescakes at Secret Recipe? I think all they have in mind now is ban on the famous Colonel Sanders and Golden Arches on TV!!!
In some way, this shows that our government wants to improve our lifestyle but totally got it wrong in its policy.
Here are my recommendations:
- Ban of trans fat ingredients or food in restaurants (not just fast food). New York and Canada got it right on this one! Read New York Times article "New York Bans Most Trans Fats in Restaurants"
- Educate public on trans fat intake and its risks
- Enforce food and drink operators to explicitly publish certified nutritional information of food served
- All ministry office or government offices to have gymnasium of recreational centers or give tax breaks for private sector's offices to open such facility at workplace
- In a land where our people already thinking about what to eat during lunch at breakfast and greet each other (same is true among Malays, Chinese, and Indian) "Dah Makan?" "Jom Makan", there should be paradigm shift in our culture on food
In conclusion, our health ministry focuses on the wrong preventive campaign and playing the "blame is it all" to a particular industry when there are more proactive ways of promoting healthy lifestyle.
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Posted by: fluefheriberto | Thursday, July 21, 2011 at 04:04 PM
well. most of the malaysians foods are either too sweet or deep fried. it's not really safe either
Posted by: improve search engine rankings | Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 09:30 PM
Prince Charles has this to say about McD food - http://www.gulf-news.com/nation/Society/10107910.html
Posted by: Mc Leong | Thursday, March 01, 2007 at 08:08 PM
Very well said Haza. I love the graphic that you made on top. And no, banning ciggie ads has not curb people from smoking. Nor has the yearly increase in price. We should ban ciggies altogether. (What am I saying? I smoke ciggies!). But then the government would lose out on billions in tax money from all sorts of avenues (tobacco farmers, companies, smokers..)
All that said and done we need to have a pradigm shift for the mindset of leaders.
I don't mean to be disrespectful to the elderly but our leaders are old, and do not have the vision to see the country into the future. I mean, this planned ban is just ridiculous.
We need young blood. And I mean YOUNG blood not Pemuda = 40 year old farts. (I hope I can say fart on your blog:D)
Posted by: Frashad | Friday, February 23, 2007 at 12:47 AM
I agree. Another suggestion could be to encourage hawkers to advertise their food as the healthier choice - i.e. less use of transfat, use of lean meats, healthier way of cooking etc. This should go hand in hand with education campaigns ala Jamie Oliver, starting with schools and working up to adults.
Imagine if there is a 50% premium of McD, as it is now, it's not that cheap compared to warung food, and yet people still go. We Malaysians might even see it as a status symbol, to be able to patronise McDonalds even if a burger ends up costing RM20. No real effect there, except that extra money goes into the government's pocket, which ideally should be used to beef up our health care system, which is already bursting at the seams...
Posted by: Najah | Thursday, February 22, 2007 at 09:53 PM