SHAH ALAM - A total of 3,500 restaurant chains under the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association (Presma) nationwide have agreed to reduce the price of unsweetened tea and coffee by 10 sen in line with the "Kurang Gula, Kurang Harga" (Less Sugar, Lower Price) campaign which will be launched by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN).
Presma vice-president Abdul Mukthahir M Ibrahim said the price reduction will be implemented simultaneously when the campaign was expected to begin in two weeks.
He said these two beverages were chosen for the initial phase and will be expanded to other menu items based on current cost suitability.
"For milk-based drinks, if we reduce the sweetness, we will use less condensed milk, but we will need to increase the use of evaporated milk, which is more expensive than condensed milk.
"Similarly, for Milo O, we need to add more Milo, so it's not suitable for a price reduction.
"For the initial phase, we agreed to reduce the price by 10 sen for unsweetened tea and coffee, whether hot or iced.
The current price of a glass of tea or coffee in restaurants ranges from RM1.40 to RM1.80, while the price of granulated sugar is RM2.85 per kilogramme.
A glass of tea or coffee required about 17.5 grammes or 3.5 teaspoons of sugar.
When asked whether a 10 sen reduction would significantly impact consumer awareness of reducing sugar in drinks, Mukthahir said the reduction was adequate for now, given that their profits have been affected by not increasing selling prices despite rising raw material costs.
Therefore, he said there will be further discussions with KPDN to identify appropriate mechanisms, including any government assistance if they wanted to add more items to the campaign.
"Considering the cost of goods, everything has increased in price several times this year. But we are advised (by the government) not to raise selling prices even if our profits are affected.
"We shouldn't be asked to lower prices when prices of goods rise and we can't increase prices. Lowering prices means we will incur losses," he said.
On Saturday, KPDN Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said the "Kurang Gula, Kurang Harga" campaign would be introduced soon to raise awareness among Malaysians about the importance of reducing sugar intake in their daily diet.
Fuziah said she had engaged with restaurant associations and industry representatives to develop the campaign.
Those involved in the engagement sessions included Presma, the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) and the Malaysian Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors General Association (MSCSPGA).
"This initiative is specifically designed to promote a healthy lifestyle among Malaysians while helping to reduce treatment and medical costs arising from unhealthy and unbalanced dietary habits, especially excessive sugar content," Fuziah said in a statement.
Estimated sugar content in popular drinks in Malaysia:
Drink (per glass): Sugar Content
- Teh tarik: 4.5 teaspoons
- Teh O: 3.5 teaspoons
- Coffee: 4 teaspoons
- Kopi O: 3.5 teaspoons
- Milo O: 2 teaspoons
- Horlicks O: 5 teaspoons
- Sirap bandung: 6 teaspoons
- Soya cincau: 4 teaspoons
- Boba/tea: 3.5 teaspoons
- Cordial: 4 teaspoons
- Boxed drink (250ml): 2 teaspoons
- Soda (350ml): 7 teaspoons
*1 teaspoon = 5 grammes of sugar.
Source: Homeage Malaysia
Top 10 countries with highest sugar consumption (per capita annually):
1. Barbados: 52.86kg
2. Guatemala: 50.28kg
3. Cuba: 49.94kg
4. Belgium: 48.27kg
5. Kiribati: 48.12kg
6. Costa Rica: 46.27kg
7. Trinidad & Tobago: 45.86kg
8. Poland: 45.07kg
9. Bahrain: 44.32kg
10. New Zealand: 43.92kg
15. Malaysia: 41.63kg
Source: Worldpopulationreview.com
*The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that sugar intake should not exceed 50 grammes or 10 teaspoons per day. However, the average Malaysian consumes 41.63 kilogrammes of sugar per year, which is equivalent to 114 grammes or 23 teaspoons per day.