Every Wednesday through October and December when the Parliament has been sitting, all 222 Malaysian MPs have not been able to enjoy sweetened drinks. It was reported in The Star that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul announced the ruling in September and that it would be enforced to promote a healthier society. He said that common drinks, such as teh tarik, will be served without sugar during the period to set an example and encourage a healthier society.
“If you want to bring in tea, you have to see if there is sugar in it or not. The move is being done so that we will become a more healthy society,” Johari was quoted as saying. The sugar-free rule implemented in parliament comes in addition to a ruling that requires all MPs to undergo health screenings and declare their health status “After making [health screenings] mandatory, I have been getting their reports. Many whom I have met said they discovered that they have illnesses following the health screenings. They are now undergoing treatment and taking medication,” he said. He added that all MPs should be fit to serve their constituencies.
Advocacy Action: Could you suggest to your elected representatives they should try a similar exercise for one day a week to promote healthier choices?