The Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association said instead of asking shops to lower the sugar content of their drinks, the government should educate the public on the dangers of consuming sweet beverages.

Association president Ayoob Khan Muhammad Yakub said any move to reduce sugar intake should be initiated by consumers, not eateries.

He also questioned the health ministry’s focus on mamak shops, asking why the same plea had not been made to other cafes and restaurants as well.

“Will it reduce the percentage of obese people if mamak shops are the only ones controlling sugar content while other shops continue using the same amount of sugar?” he said to FMT.

Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye had made the appeal while defending the soda tax, which will be enforced beginning April 1.

It will see an excise tax of 40 sen per litre on sweetened beverages with more than five grams of sugar or sugar-based sweetener per 100ml.

This includes carbonated drinks, as well as flavoured and other non-alcoholic beverages.

The tax will also be imposed on juice or vegetable-based drinks with over 12g of sugar per 100ml.

Lee said the ministry hoped the tax would change people’s habit of consuming sweet beverages.

However, Ayoob Khan said any instruction for mamak shops to cut the sugar levels in their drinks would only cause confusion between waiters and customers.

“Mamak shops will be targeted for reducing sugar and still charging the same rate as before,” he added.

He praised the government’s intention in encouraging people to reduce their sugar intake but said it was impossible to bring about change in this way.

“We cannot simply change Malaysians’ tastebuds,” he said. “We cannot force anyone according to what we think they should drink.”