KUALA LUMPUR: All ministries need to work together to create a healthier nation, says Health Ministry Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the people are facing many obstacles when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle, citing access to affordable, nutritious meals as an example.
“Nutritious food tends to be expensive, causing parents to feed their children cheaper processed food and fast food.
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“They want to exercise, but at the same time need to juggle several jobs,” he said during the Health Policy Summit 2022 policy dialogue at the World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (Aug 16).
Hence, he stressed, collaboration among government agencies is crucial in establishing a healthier country.
“How can our people be healthier when Malaysian cities are not walkable, the urban planning and the built environment do not encourage a healthy lifestyle?
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“Public transportation is also an example, people are too dependent on private cars to travel around,” Khairy added.
Also present at the policy dialogue were former health minister Tan Sri Dr S. Subramaniam, Sunway Centre for Planetary Health executive director Tan Sri Prof Dr Jemilah Mahmood and Axiata Group chairman Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, who joined on a virtual platform.