The Malaysian government is studying if the country's sugar subsidy should be removed to deter people from consuming excessive sugar.

The Star, a local daily, reported on Wednesday that the withdrawal of sugar subsidy was in line with the Malaysian government's aim to promote healthier lifestyles among its people.

The daily quoted Malaysian Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob as saying that the Malaysian government wanted the people to reduce sugar intake.

Ismail said that his ministry was seriously looking at proposals by various groups to cut the subsidy and would raise the matter for discussion in the Malaysian cabinet.

Ismail said the Malaysian government spent 720 million ringgit (US$205.71 million) on sugar subsidy to maintain the price at 1.45 ringgit (0.41 US cents) a kilogram.

A subsidy removal may push the price to 2.45 ringgit (0.7 US cents) a kilogram, registering a 70 percent hike, added the minister.

Malaysia's National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2006 revealed that 43.1 percent of Malaysian adults were overweight or obese, which was double the figure from a decade ago.

(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2009)