Spotlight: 'It's good straight from the tap'
By ANIZA DAMIS and TAN CHOE CHOE
AFTER three months in office, Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai talks
to ANIZA DAMIS and TAN CHOE CHOE about food safety, safe drinking water,
the spiralling price of infant formula and how he is taking the anti-smoking
campaign into Parliament. Q: Why are our food exports having problems
meeting international safety standards is the standard of our food safety
slipping?
A: To export foods, we have to abide by many international standards.
We've been exporting our seafood to EU (European Union) for the past few
decades and there's been no case of contamination. Yet, when EU sets the
standards, all our processing plants and establishments have to follow.
That's why we have voluntarily de-listed our exporters so we can upgrade.
The standard of our food safety is not going down, but always improving.
Q: If we're upgrading our standards for exports, are we doing the same
for the handling of food for local consumption?
A: Yes. The local ones have to catch up, too. The EU requirements want
us to improve our jetty, but it's is not only used by EU export vessels,
but also by locals. In that way, when we upgrade, we're also upgrading
our local standards. Another example is to have block ice made from potable
water. But some of our ice factories have rusty machines, fungi cover
the floors and they're very dirty. I got reports from my officers and
(shakes his head) it's just... we had to shut down some 40-50 factories.
Q: What about ice for local consumption, are they monitored? Do the ice
factories manufacture them using potable water?
A: Yes, that's the smaller ice we call rock ice. It's OK as they use
potable tap water. Actually water from the JBA (Water Supply Department)
pipes is potable. You can drink it just like that and it's OK, it's safe.
Malaysian water is safe.
Q: Do you drink your water straight from the tap?
A: I drink it straight from the dispenser, after it has been filtered.
Q: How much does the filter cost?
A: I don't know. But our tap water is potable. We have a water surveillance
system that checks the water potability from the reservoir right down
to the tap. We get complaints sometimes because of leakages. In certain
areas, the water pipes burst and impurities get in. Accidents happen.
Q: But otherwise, you as the health minister, would assure Malaysians
that they can drink water straight from the tap?
A: Yes, because we have a team that checks on the quality of our water.
But we do advise people to boil water. You see in the 1950s and 60s, we
used to ask people to boil water before they drink it. But now we have
reached such a level (of cleanliness) that we're confident our water is
drinkable.
Q: So no need to boil?
A: At least go for a filter because the path of the water distribution
channel is so long. Along the way some contamination may happen. I'm talking
about JBA water. If you get your water from somewhere else, that's nothing
to do with us. I think you better boil that kind of water.
Q: People who can afford a filter will get a filter but if they can't,
how much do they have to worry?
A: We have to differentiate between the safety aspect and the visual
aesthetic aspect. If the water is slightly discoloured doesn't mean that
it's not potable. It can be murky but it can still be safe. It won't cause
sickness.
Q: What do you mean by safe?
A: There's no heavy metal and E. coli. So far there are no reports of
anyone getting bacterial infection from drinking our tap water.
Q: The government has said it's not going to control the price of infant
formula because it wants to encourage mothers to breast-feed. But what
about mothers who are too under-nourished to have any breast milk? Or
people who need to go out to work and can't afford the pump to keep their
breast milk?
A: We're very concerned about breast-feeding, that's why our campaign
to encourage breast-feeding has intensified. If we don't give mothers'
milk to the infants, their immunity would be low. For example, some Orang
Asli mothers give their children carbohydrates when they are one year
old. This can cause malnutrition. The child can be very flabby but inside
he's actually empty and short of protein.
Q: But the price of infant formula has gone up by some 80 per cent over
the past two years. We hear some parents dilute condensed milk to feed
their children because infant formula is too expensive.
A: That's all sugar and sugar is actually poison. It's not healthy for
children at that age to take too much sugar. Please don't substitute (breast
milk or infant formula) with condensed milk. If you have problems getting
it, come to us.
Q: Let's talk about sugar. Is the Health Ministry planning to get drinks'
manufacturers to reduce their sugar content, without adding artificial
sweeteners?
A: Actually, this sugar policy has been there since 1999. The ministry
has taken steps to create awareness among the food industry, especially
soft drinks, to reduce the sugar content.
Q: "Awareness" meaning?
A: We tell them that they have to lower it.
Q: This is advice? It's not a requirement?
A: Yes, it's advice.
Q: Drinks' manufacturers tailor the sweetness of drinks according to
the national tastebuds. Malaysians are particularly sweet-toothed. Are
you planning to make manufacturers reduce the sugar content, without replacing
it with artificial sweeteners?
A: At the moment, we already have a certain standard level, 12g of sugar
per 100ml. We have asked them to reduce it to 10g per 100ml voluntarily.
Q: But 10g is still a lot.
A: We are advising them to reduce.
Q: How many of them have complied with this?
A: Because it is voluntary, we haven't checked. But in supporting the
food industry to reduce sugar, the Food Regulation 1995 has permitted
the use of the claim "reduced sugar". So people will know that
their biscuits and cakes have reduced sugar. So people will know that
it is healthy.
Q: But if a manufacturer reduces from 12g to 10g, they are using that
move as a marketing tool, whereas it hasn't really gone down much.
A: Recently, there was a dialogue with the manufacturers, and we even
proposed to lower it to 5g, but they said it would affect their business,
and even Singapore doesn't have such low levels.
Q: We are actually looking at an increasing number of diabetes patients
in Malaysia.
A: I am also very concerned about diabetic patients.
Q: If you cut from 12g to 5g immediately, it might be too drastic. But
if we cut down the sugar content 2g every three to five years, eventually
we could change the tastebuds of Malaysians.
A: I can consider it. It's true that we have to get our locals to acclimatise
to less sweetness. I agree with you. Our teh tarik kurang manis is still
too sweet. I can't understand why they have to use so much sugar and condensed
milk. We have to do something.
Q: What are you going to do?
A: We will have to ask them to reduce it in a staggered manner.
Q: But this is all voluntary, it doesn't mean anything.
A: We may have to come up with regulations to control the content of
sugar. But you see, a lot of imported foods also have very high sugar
content. If we put a certain regulation, a lot of imported food may not
come in.
Q: We have spoken to a few food importers, and they claim that they specifically
make their products sweeter because Malaysians want it sweet. If the EU
can have such high standards for their people, why can't we?
A: There are a lot of things we have to look at. Our diet is changing,
our lifestyle is changing, non-communicable diseases are changing. Before
we were worried about polio, malaria; now, all these diseases are under
control. We are no longer facing this kind of threat. But now the threat
is from non-communicable diseases, lifestyle diseases.
Q: Has this suggestion to reduce sugar content been made to drinks manufacturers
as well?
A: Yes. We have already suggested to them to reduce, and that's why they
come up with drinks with reduced sugar and all kinds of products with
reduced sugar.
Q: But they use artificial sweeteners.
A: Are they using artificial sweeteners?
Q: Yes.
A: But there are some artificial sweeteners that should not be used actually.
One of it is saccharin. We discourage the use of saccharin. I will look
into this. I am very new (as health minister). I am only three months
into the job, but I understand very well the preventive aspects of health.
If I can get Malaysians to have a balanced diet, and lead a healthy lifestyle,
I think I should be able to manage health well. Instead of just managing
hospitals, which is not enough, I must manage health too.
Q: So, if we come back to you in six months' time, can we expect something
more concrete?
A: Yes. You can rest assured I will look into all this. I will look into
making it mandatory, a standard sugar level for the country. People must
understand that sugar is harmful to them. We have to create this kind
of awareness.
Tak Nak! campaign a success
Q: How effective has the Tak Nak! anti-smoking campaign been?
A: From the National Health and Morbidity survey that we did in 2006,
there was a drop of two per cent in smokers. Because of this campaign,
we managed to reduce the number of smokers. It's effective. At least they
know that there is a Tak Nak! campaign. We plan to expand our smoking
areas beyond the 19 gazetted areas. Besides the recently included PLKN
(national service programme) areas, we are looking at expanding our non-smoking
areas to include all air-conditioned restaurants and air-conditioned areas.
We are not denying the right of smokers. They can have their own special
smoking area, but it must be designed in such a way that the ventilation
is separate, a proper smoking area, rather than just a partition.
Q: When the rule came that you can't have smoking in air-conditioned
restaurants, the restaurateurs just shut down the air-conditioner, and
non-smokers were trapped in smoke-filled eateries.
A: All this will be looked into. Our law is very clear. Once you are
gazetted as a non-smoking area, we can fine you. Our enforcement officers
can come in and fine you. The fine is between RM250 and RM5,000. We also
have to educate smokers that they have to respect others.
Q: How many people have been fined for smoking in Parliament?
A: We haven't moved into Parliament yet. A lot of MPs have asked me whether
we will be moving in (with enforcement). We will speak to the Speaker
to allow my officers to go in and enforce the law in Parliament.
Q: You mean health officers can't go into Parliament to enforce the law?
A: It's not that we can't go in. But we are respecting the institution.
Q: But those smokers are not respecting the institution.
A: That's why, in my reply to questions in Parliament, I already made
a call to all MPs to set an example -- they are legislators, they understand
the law, and they must respect the law. You must only smoke in specially
gazetted smoking areas. In non-smoking areas, you shouldn't smoke.
Q: Is the special smoking area in Parliament a gazetted smoking area?
A: Yes. It's open-air, but it's hot. So, we may have to consider having
some smoking areas that is not so uncomfortable. We are concerned for
certain people who can't get rid of their habit. But they must respect
the rights of other people. I'm going in hard on this. I will have to
take some very drastic action.
Q: When Parliament starts again tomorrow, are we going to see any health
officers coming in?
A: As I said, I have to talk to the Speaker.
Q: Have you spoken to the Speaker?
A: I haven't.
Q: Why not?
A: Tomorrow if possible, I will talk to them and get my health officers
to go in.
Q: Will they dare to fine a minister, an MP, or even the Speaker himself
if he is a smoker?
A: (laughs) None of us is above the law. But, as you know, in the initial
stage of enforcement, we will usually advise first. If we see a smoker,
we will advise him, if they continue, and persist, then we will summon
them.
Q: Have you ever advised your brother or sister MPs not to smoke?
A: Oh yes. I have advised them. I sit at the MPs' lounge and tell them.
Q: And what do they say? Do they say "Go away"?
A: (laughs) Either they walk away, or some of them will put out their
cigarettes. Not everybody is adamant.
Q: A few weeks ago, when we ran a centrespread photo feature of MPs smoking
in Parliament. The day after that story appeared, some no-smoking signs
in Parliament were ripped off the walls.
A: They must show respect to the law.
Q: You're the head prefect in this matter. What are you going to do?
A: (laughs) I've already said my piece. If they don't follow, then necessary
action needs to be taken. We have set up clinics for all these addicted
smokers to come so that we can treat them.
Q: Addiction aside, you do understand why it is important for lawmakers
to be seen to be observing the law. Otherwise, your no-smoking campaign
will have very little meaning. There's a moral element to leaders not
observing the law.
A: I understand. That's why I reminded them many times in Parliament.
We may have to come up with some other strategies. I will send out reminders
to all MPs.
Q: Can we expect MPs to get the reminders tomorrow.
A: No. It will take some time to send out the reminders. Maybe I'll have
to make it compulsory for them to go to the quit-smoking clinic. (laughs)
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