KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 (Bernama) -- Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly type 2 diabetes, are now spreading at an alarming rate among Malaysia's youth, with cases detected in individuals as young as 14, a stark early warning sign for the nation's young population.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad revealed that data from the National Diabetes Registry paints a deeply worrying picture.
In 2024, 1,926 new cases were recorded. That number edged up to 1,932 in 2025. And for the first six months of this year alone, as of June 2026, another 660 fresh cases have already been logged.
During a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, Dzulkefly said these figures prove that type 2 diabetes is no longer a disease confined to adults. It is now creeping into the lives of teenagers and young adults under 30.
"This shows that many young people are walking around with risk factors or undiagnosed NCDs without even realising it. Now, we are seeing individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at much younger ages, as early as 14," he said.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman Begri (GPS-Betong), who had asked for the latest NCD statistics among youth under 30, as well as an update on the effectiveness of the 'War on Sugar' campaign and the sugar tax in reducing national obesity rates.
Dr Dzulkefly pointed to findings from the National Health Screening Initiative conducted in 2025, which screened 347,813 individuals aged 18 to 30.
The results were telling. Of those screened, 11,751 people (3.4 per cent) had high blood glucose levels, while 30,170 (8.8 per cent) recorded high blood pressure readings. Alarmingly, 98.1 per cent of all participants had no prior history of NCDs, meaning many were walking around with undetected risk factors.
To tackle this growing concern, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is shifting its approach from sick-care (treating illnesses after they arise) to health-care, which focuses on early detection and lifestyle interventions.
On the effectiveness of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax, introduced on July 1, 2019, at RM0.40 per litre, Dzulkefly said the impact has been positive. Consumption of sugary drinks among teenagers dropped significantly, from 36.9 per cent to 16.4 per cent.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022 recorded a further decline in carbonated drink consumption, with the percentage of those drinking at least once daily dropping from 36.9 per cent (2019) to 32.4 per cent (2022).
Encouraged by this success, MOH raised the sugar tax by 10 sen on Jan 1, 2024, followed by another 40 sen hike on Jan 1, 2025, bringing the current rate to RM0.90 per litre.
"To measure the full impact of these increases, MOH will partner with UNICEF to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the sugar tax hikes in 2027, three years after the 2024 adjustment," he said.
The fight against excessive sugar intake is also being reinforced by the Strategic Plan to Reduce Sugar Consumption Among Malaysians 2024-2030, which taps into behavioural insights and nudging techniques to encourage healthier choices.
Key initiatives under the plan include the KiBaR programme (Count, Burn, Record), the introduction of the Healthier Choice Logo (HCL), Nutri-Grade labelling system, and Healthy Eating Programme (HDP) at food outlets.
In 2024, 1,926 new cases were recorded. That number edged up to 1,932 in 2025. And for the first six months of this year alone, as of June 2026, another 660 fresh cases have already been logged.
During a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, Dzulkefly said these figures prove that type 2 diabetes is no longer a disease confined to adults. It is now creeping into the lives of teenagers and young adults under 30.
"This shows that many young people are walking around with risk factors or undiagnosed NCDs without even realising it. Now, we are seeing individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at much younger ages, as early as 14," he said.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Dr Richard Rapu @ Aman Begri (GPS-Betong), who had asked for the latest NCD statistics among youth under 30, as well as an update on the effectiveness of the 'War on Sugar' campaign and the sugar tax in reducing national obesity rates.
Dr Dzulkefly pointed to findings from the National Health Screening Initiative conducted in 2025, which screened 347,813 individuals aged 18 to 30.
The results were telling. Of those screened, 11,751 people (3.4 per cent) had high blood glucose levels, while 30,170 (8.8 per cent) recorded high blood pressure readings. Alarmingly, 98.1 per cent of all participants had no prior history of NCDs, meaning many were walking around with undetected risk factors.
To tackle this growing concern, the Ministry of Health (MOH) is shifting its approach from sick-care (treating illnesses after they arise) to health-care, which focuses on early detection and lifestyle interventions.
On the effectiveness of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax, introduced on July 1, 2019, at RM0.40 per litre, Dzulkefly said the impact has been positive. Consumption of sugary drinks among teenagers dropped significantly, from 36.9 per cent to 16.4 per cent.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2022 recorded a further decline in carbonated drink consumption, with the percentage of those drinking at least once daily dropping from 36.9 per cent (2019) to 32.4 per cent (2022).
Encouraged by this success, MOH raised the sugar tax by 10 sen on Jan 1, 2024, followed by another 40 sen hike on Jan 1, 2025, bringing the current rate to RM0.90 per litre.
"To measure the full impact of these increases, MOH will partner with UNICEF to conduct a study on the effectiveness of the sugar tax hikes in 2027, three years after the 2024 adjustment," he said.
The fight against excessive sugar intake is also being reinforced by the Strategic Plan to Reduce Sugar Consumption Among Malaysians 2024-2030, which taps into behavioural insights and nudging techniques to encourage healthier choices.
Key initiatives under the plan include the KiBaR programme (Count, Burn, Record), the introduction of the Healthier Choice Logo (HCL), Nutri-Grade labelling system, and Healthy Eating Programme (HDP) at food outlets.