KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysians who spoke with Scoop this weekend appeared to be unfazed by reports of a sugar shortage and the apparent increase in prices of the additive food item. Some view sugar as unhealthy, leading them to avoid purchasing it altogether.
18-year-old student Fahim Aizat, who is pursuing a foundation in business management, expressed a lack of awareness of the recent sugar price hike.
As a vegetarian, he said he prefers natural sugar sources such as fruits, particularly bananas and apples. However, he occasionally opts for brown sugar as an energy source for exercise.
“I spend around RM25 for every 100 grams of brown sugar. It’s pricier than white sugar, but it’s worth it for the health benefits,” he explained, indicating that he intends to continue buying brown sugar as he usually does.
Based on a brief survey by Scoop yesterday of shops in Setia Alam in Selangor and Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, sugar prices in stores ranged from RM2.85 (coarse grain sugar) to RM5.75 (soft brown sugar) per kg.
Sales executive Ivan Siaw, 28, who occasionally buys sugar, noted a slight price increase. However, since he consumes it sparingly, the price hike does not significantly impact him.
“One packet can last me a very long time, so a minor price increase doesn’t affect me much. I usually buy white sugar for RM2 to RM3 per packet as it’s the most affordable option,” he said.
Lecturer Nadiah Suki, 49, said she sticks to brown sugar, which costs RM3.50 per packet. However, she only infrequently consumes sugar, purchasing just one packet every three to four months.
“I’m not sure if sugar is more expensive these days, but brown sugar has historically been slightly pricier than white sugar. I did a quick search online, and it seems the price has almost doubled compared to what it used to be,” she said.
“While I don’t feel the direct impact of expensive sugar prices, I do feel it indirectly through related products that have also become costlier, such as sweet drinks, cakes, and traditional kuih.
“Occasionally, I use stevia as a sugar substitute, but I’m cutting down on sugar for health reasons and opting for sugarless drinks like tea or lime juice,” she said.
Software engineer Tharun Veda, 26, purchases white sugar monthly to add to his tea and Indian sweets. He spends around RM5 per 1kg packet and noted that the price has remained stable for him.
“I’m content with the current sugar pricing and don’t intend to reduce my purchases. I consume very little sugar, just one teaspoon per day, as it’s not healthy to consume excessive amounts,” he said. – October 9, 2023