Malaysia is grappling with a growing double burden of malnutrition, with 54.4% of adults aged 18 and above classified as overweight or obese, highlighting the urgent need to restructure national food policies and environments.
Health Select Committee Chairman Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai) cited data from the 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), revealing that 29.2% of adults suffer from hypertension, 33.3% have high cholesterol, and 15.6% live with diabetes mellitus.
“Nutrition is not merely a matter of personal choice or taste—it underpins national health, productivity, the economy, and the future of Malaysia’s next generation,” he said while presenting the Health Select Committee’s statement on Strengthening Nutrition Policy and Interventions in Malaysia at the Dewan Rakyat today.
Suhaizan highlighted findings from meetings with experts, the Ministry of Health (MOH), and medical practitioners, noting that Malaysia faces malnutrition in both undernutrition and overnutrition forms, requiring immediate attention.
He warned that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are no longer isolated issues but have become a population-wide health pattern, with 35.9% of adults suffering from metabolic syndrome and over half a million adults living with four simultaneous NCDs: obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia.
Nearly 2.3 million adults reportedly live with three concurrent NCDs, affecting productivity, quality of life, and placing prolonged strain on healthcare services.
To address this, the committee proposed 10 strategic recommendations involving government ministries, agencies, NGOs, and stakeholders to strengthen the implementation of national nutrition policies. Key proposals include enhancing the National Nutrition Policy Malaysia 3.0, implementing fiscal measures such as a sugar-sweetened beverage tax, redirecting sugar subsidies toward public health initiatives, and expanding screening and management of nutrition-related diseases in hospitals and primary care.
“Nutrition reform demands bold policies and continuous commitment. Failure to tackle the rising burden of malnutrition and obesity risks leaving future generations with an overburdened healthcare system and impaired human potential,” Suhaizan said.
Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar) warned that Malaysia faces a severe health crisis, with obesity and diet-related treatment costs estimated at RM70 billion annually—almost double the Ministry of Health’s total 2026 budget of RM46.5 billion. He recommended a national diet revolution campaign encouraging partial replacement of white rice with brown rice or sweet potatoes to reduce blood sugar spikes, alongside a national strength-training initiative to build muscle mass.
“Strength training increases basal metabolism, allowing the body to burn more calories even while sitting or sleeping. More muscle makes the body more efficient at burning fat,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Dr Halimah Ali (PN-Kapar) highlighted that overnutrition and imbalanced diets are not only contributing to cholesterol and heart disease but also stunting among children.
“Over the past 25 years, Malaysia’s child stunting rate has risen 20–24%, while countries like Bangladesh, Cambodia, and the Philippines have seen declines. Malaysia is the only one experiencing an increase,” she said, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach involving government and society, and recommending inter-ministerial collaboration to develop more effective nutrition policies and programs.
