Sibu: Seventy-five dialysis patients in the Sibu parliamentary constituency have received financial assistance from their MP, Oscar Ling Chai Yew, to help ease the burden of ongoing treatment costs.
Ling said patients undergoing dialysis are required to attend treatment at dialysis centres several times a week, resulting in substantial and continuous medical expenses that can strain household finances.
Speaking during the aid distribution, he highlighted broader public health concerns, noting that Malaysia has the highest obesity rate in Southeast Asia and ranks among the highest in Asia.
“The trend reflects unhealthy dietary habits among Malaysians and a growing prevalence of the ‘three highs’ – high blood sugar, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
“These health problems are closely linked to diets high in sugar, salt and oil. Continuous consumption of such foods leads to the gradual accumulation of health risks, eventually resulting in chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol,” Ling said.
Ling also pointed to the widespread consumption of high-sugar beverages, including carbonated drinks, milk tea and sweet desserts, as a contributing factor.
In addition, unhealthy lifestyles such as staying up late or spending long hours playing video games can weaken the body’s immune system and further increase health risks.
He urged the public to adopt healthier eating habits by choosing more natural, whole foods while reducing intake of sugary, salty, and oily products.
Regular exercise and better lifestyle discipline are equally important in maintaining overall health and strengthening immunity, he added.
Ling stressed that public health is closely tied to national development.
A healthier population would reduce the country’s medical expenditure, allowing more resources to be channelled into economic growth and social development.
“Taking care of one’s health is not only a responsibility to oneself, but also a responsibility to the nation,” he said.
