KUALA LUMPUR, 06 June 2026 — The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy calls on the Government to introduce a specific excise tax on sweetened condensed milk and sweetened creamer as part of Malaysia’s “War Against Sugar” and broader strategy to prevent and control diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and other non-communicable diseases.

“Malaysia cannot continue treating diabetes and NCDs only after people become sick. The country must act proactively and reduce everyday exposure to cheap, concentrated sugar,” emphasised Azrul Mohd Khalib, Chief Executive Officer of the Galen Centre.

“Sweetened condensed milk is one of the most common and normalised sources of added sugar in the Malaysian diet.”

“It is poured daily into teh tarik, kopi, Milo, chocolate drinks and other beverages, and is also widely used in desserts, roti canai, spreads, cendol, ais kacang, kueh, cakes and home cooking.”

“Malaysia has implemented sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax, but we are still leaving out one of the biggest everyday contributors to added sugar: condensed milk. This is not about attacking food culture. It is about recognising that the sugar burden in our drinks and food has changed the health of the nation.”

“Good food and drink should not come with a future of diabetes, kidney failure, blindness, amputations and heart disease.”

“Unlike bottled soft drinks, condensed milk is often invisible in the final product. Consumers may not know how much has been added to their drink or food. A glass of teh tarik or kopi at a mamak stall, kopitiam or restaurant can contain several spoonfuls of condensed milk. This makes it a major and under-regulated route through which Malaysians consume sugar every day.”

“The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 reported that 15.6% of adults in Malaysia have diabetes, 29.2% have hypertension, 33.3% have high cholesterol, and 54.4% are overweight or obese. The caseload is also getting younger. Almost 2.3 million adults are living with three NCDs, while a significant number live with multiple overlapping risk factors. These are not isolated conditions.”

“Diabetes increases the risk of chronic kidney disease leading to kidney failure, heart attack, stroke, blindness, nerve damage and lower-limb amputation. Look into our community clinics, outpatient services, and hospital emergency rooms and you will realise that there is an ongoing cardiovascular renal metabolic syndrome crisis in Malaysia.”

“The economic burden is already severe. It has been estimated that NCDs cost Malaysia RM64.2 billion in 2021, equivalent to 4.2 percent of GDP. This included RM12.4 billion in public health-care costs and RM51.8 billion in productivity losses. That was 5 years ago.”

“Every ringgit not spent on prevention today will be paid many times over in dialysis, hospital admissions, heart procedures, medicines, disability, lost productivity and premature death tomorrow,” said Azrul.

“Malaysia already spends billions treating conditions that are strongly linked to diet and sugar exposure. A condensed milk tax is a practical, targeted and necessary next step.”

The Galen Centre urges the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Health to include a condensed milk and sweetened creamer excise tax in the 2027 Federal Budget. This should be alongside stronger nutrition labelling, public education and targeted support for lower-income households.

The Galen Centre proposes that the Government introduce a tiered excise tax on sweetened condensed milk, sweetened creamer and similar high-sugar milk-based products, based on sugar content per 100g. Products with higher sugar content should be taxed at a higher rate, while lower-sugar reformulated products should receive a lower rate. This would encourage manufacturers to reformulate, reduce sugar content and offer healthier alternatives.

The tax should apply not only to retail cans and packets sold in supermarkets, but also to commercial and bulk supply used by restaurants, mamak outlets, kopitiams, cafés, bakeries and food manufacturers.

Revenue from the tax should be ring-fenced for NCD prevention and control. This should include diabetes screening, early treatment, public health campaigns, nutrition education, and support for small food operators.