AN MCA leader said it is difficult to agree with the suggestion by the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) to the government to ban 24-hour eateries to combat obesity, saying such a call lacks constructive solutions.

MCA vice president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng said 24-hour food outlets provide significant convenience for certain segments of society, for example early risers and tourists, and, in particular, employees assigned to night shift duties.

“These people are assured that they have access to meals and beverages at odd hours. Hence, the services of 24-hour food outlets are crucially important for these groups,” he said in a statement on Thursday (April 25).

“It is therefore impossible to support CAP’s proposal to shorten the operating hours and scrap the operating licence of 24-hour eateries.”

According to Wee who is also the Tanjung Piai MP, cultivating healthy eating habits and lifestyles should begin with education and publicity rather than with restrictions and prohibitions.

He said as society is not akin to a school or dormitory, excessive restrictions in society can lead to unintended consequences.

“Forcibly reducing the operating hours for eateries is not only detrimental to Malaysia’s investment climate but also contrary to our goal of promoting tourism development,” he remarked.

“Key tourist areas such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru particularly need to maintain a flexible and adaptable business environment to meet the demands of domestic and international visitors.”

Wee noted that healthy lifestyles should be encouraged, but the society needs to respect that individuals make their own choices about food intake, while restaurant businesses also need to carry on.

“Most important is for food outlets or hawkers to maintain hygiene and sanitation of their premises and ensure that ingredients are fresh, do not contain contrabands and have not gone past their use-by dates,” he stressed.

“Our goals should aim towards creating an inclusive and supportive environment instead of restricting people’s access to meals via prohibitions.

“The government needs to consider the needs of all industries and communities and to continue supporting 24-hour operating eateries, with government decisions being focused on the best interest of society.”

On Sunday (April 21), CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kadir claimed that studies have shown that there are negative effects of late-night meals such as weight gain, sleep disorders and digestive issues.

He said presently, Malaysians are in an unhealthy situation as the country has the highest prevalence of obesity among adults in Southeast Asia.

According to Mohiden, the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey revealed that 50.1% of the country’s adult population were reported to be overweight (30.4%) or obese (19.7%).

He said research had also shown that individuals who eat late at night exceed 40% of their daily energy requirements, which pose a significant risk factor for obesity. - April 25, 2024 

https://focusmalaysia.my/mca-encourage-healthy-living-via-education-not-by-banning-24-hour-eateries/