Malaysian Govt To Ban Fluorescent Lollipops From Entering The Country

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government has imposed a ban on fluorescent lollipops from entering the country as it is believed to contain hazardous chemicals. Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the Ministry had intensified monitoring at the entry points to the country to prevent the entry of such candy. "The material (candy) is now placed in level 5 where its importation is placed under the approval terms before it is placed on level 6, where its import is totally banned," he told reporters after opening the Health Carnival at Tunku Abdul Rahman College, Wangsa Maju here Sunday. He believed that the lollipops were brought in from abroad because during a raid by the ministry revealed that the address printed on the candy wrapper was a false address. The Consumers Association of Penang recently called on the government to ban the sale of fluorescent lollipops as its was alleged to containing hazardous chemicals. Meanwhile, Liow said obesity among the Malaysian population has increased three-fold, from 4.4 percent in 2006 to 15.1 percent last year. In this context, he said diabetes among the population in the country also showed an increase trend from 11.6 percent in 2006 to 15.2 percent last year. "This shows there are 2.6 million people suffering from diabetes, 6.2 million have high cholesterol and 2.5 million people are obese. So do not think obesity is healthy and cute, obesity actually leads to various diseases," he said. He also said that dengue fever cases had increased this year with 5,103 cases involving 16 deaths to date, compared to eight deaths in the same period last year. Liow said ministry officials would also meet the public to get feedback in efforts to improve health services in the country. He said public opinion was needed because the country was now faced with new challenges namely an increase in non-communicable diseases such as heart diseases and diabetes as well as an increase in the number of elderly people. -- BERNAMA