Kuala Lumpur: The Ministry of Health (MOH) is in the process of drafting a Nutrition Bill, following the approval of a proposal paper by the Cabinet, Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni announced. However, the Bill is not expected to be tabled in Parliament this year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Lukanisman stated, "We have presented a memorandum to the Cabinet, and it has been approved. Currently, we are drafting the Bill, and it will be tabled once completed, but not within this year." He made this remark while speaking to reporters at the closing of the National-level 'Lead Coach for Your Best Lifestyle' (JU C-HAT) Convention 2025.
Last October, Dewan Rakyat Special Select Committee on Health chairman Suhaizan Kaiat highlighted that the Malaysian Nutrition Act would be designed to regulate the dietary intake of the populace, focusing primarily on children.
Lukanisman further mentioned MOH's commitment to combating obesity among children and adolescents. This initiative is part of the National-level JU C-HAT Convention 2025, which supports the Strategic Plan to Combat the Double Burden of Malnutrition Among Malaysian Children 2023-2030. The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) Report indicates a growing prevalence of overweightness and obesity among children.
"For children under the age of 5, the rate increased from 5.6 percent in 2019 to six percent in 2022. For adolescents aged 13 to 17, the prevalence rose from 28.5 percent in 2017 to 30.5 percent in 2022, indicating that one in three children is facing issues of being overweight or obese," Lukanisman explained.
In addition to the JU C-HAT initiative, Lukanisman revealed that MOH is adopting a comprehensive approach through the establishment of the Taskforce Committee to Tackle Obesity in Malaysia, which includes various ministries, departments, and agencies. Since JU C-HAT's inception in 2019, trained volunteer groups have conducted a total of 1,207 activities nationwide.
The JU C-HAT Convention, organised by the CAKNA Sihat Malaysia Association and the Nutrition Division of the MOH, gathered over 300 participants, including coaches, nutritionists, teachers, and parents from across the country. The event aimed to enhance knowledge, share experiences, and build networks to promote healthy lifestyles among school children.