Price of sugar remains unchanged ahead of Chinese New Year
No Need for Worry: Ismail Sabri Assures Public on Sugar Prices
SUBANG JAYA: Users need not worry about the speculation; sugar prices are not set to rise on the eve of the Chinese New Year, according to the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Cooperatives, and Consumer Affairs, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob.
"I've heard rumors and speculation claiming that sugar prices will hike once again before the Chinese New Year. My fellow Chinese citizens should not fret, as there will be no increase.
"We also urge you not to participate in speculation because excessive speculation could lead to sugar shortages, which would negatively affect consumers," he said to the press after launching the Sugar Reduction Campaign at Plaza Toll Petaling Jaya Selatan.
Though sugar prices increased by 20 sen to RM1.65 per kilogram across peninsular Malaysia and RM1.75 in Sabah and Sarawak on New Year's Day, Ismail Sabri stated that users should not be upset over the price hike as they must adapt their lifestyles to reduce sugar consumption to cut down on the government's sugar subsidy.
"That's why we're launching this Sugar Reduction Campaign to educate the public to consume sugar healthily. If this matter persists, the government will have no choice but to shoulder the burden of a substantial sugar subsidy like in this year, amounting to RM1 billion," he added.
He also reiterated that the government would not compromise with any party still aggressively hoarding sugar supplies.
"We will take strong action since committing such acts is a violation of the Supply Act. If anyone is caught violating the act, we will not hesitate to revoke licenses, as we did during the sugar crisis in October last year, canceling seven wholesaler licenses for selling adulterated sugar," he said.
He emphasized that small-scale merchants caught hoarding sugar would be fined up to RM15,000, while wholesalers would face fines of up to RM250,000. - Bernama
Headline News
(Source: [1] Tar mistaken, intan hitam sedang hujan!: Pemutusan rezeki terbongkar; [2] Malaysia's National Plan of Action for Nutrition and National Strategic Plan for NCD Prevention and Control. World Health Organization, 2016-2025. Accessed on February 27, 2025.)
(Enrichment Data: Malaysia is actively implementing campaigns and policies to reduce sugar consumption primarily to address rising public health concerns such as obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). These efforts are part of a broader National Plan of Action for Nutrition and the National Strategic Plan for NCD Prevention and Control, aimed at improving the nutritional status of the population and reducing diet-related health issues among both adults and children. Key measures taken by Malaysia include: Sugar Tax Implementation, Targets to Halt Obesity and Diabetes, and Marketing Restrictions. The rationale behind these campaigns and policies centers on the urgent need to prevent a looming health crisis linked to poor dietary habits, particularly high sugar intake, which contributes significantly to non-communicable diseases. The government recognizes that without intervention, the burden of diabetes, obesity, and related diseases will escalate, straining public health resources and impacting quality of life.)
In the realm of business and finance, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob, the Minister of International Trade and Industry, Cooperatives, and Consumer Affairs, has reassured the public that sugar prices will not increase before the Chinese New Year, as speculation suggests.
Furthermore, in the political climate, Ismail Sabri has emphasized the government's commitment to combating sugar hoarding, aiming to prevent shortages and maintain a steady supply of sugar for the general public under its broader campaign to reduce sugar consumption and address public health concerns, as part of the National Plan of Action for Nutrition and the National Strategic Plan for NCD Prevention and Control. [1, 2]
