SEPTEMBER 25 ― Last week, Prasarana Malaysia in conjunction with Hari Sukan Negara and working together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, launched the MyRapid Challenge.Currently ongoing at selected LRT stations and open to the general public, participants are challenged to complete a series of four physical exercises, namely jumping jacks, skip rope, hula hoop and push ups.

Onlookers at the launch were treated to the sight of the Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin doing the hula hoop and skip rope. Both women and men present swooned, giggled and marvelled at the sight of an obviously fit Cabinet Minister (and honorary Colonel in the Territorial Army) sportingly try out the challenge.

I’m glad that we finally have a badass minister holding this portfolio who young people can actually look to as a role model for health and fitness. For far too long, our Members of Parliament have been ageing, overweight or obese men who look like they have enjoyed the kambing golek at kenduris, had one too many teh tariks and prefer to ogle people at the gym rather than be one of those working out.

Most of our MPs are incredibly unfit. In fact, back in 2010 while partaking in a durian and mutton fiesta (in my opinion, a lethal combination) at the House of Parliament, an MP keeled over and had to be hospitalised.

There are very few role models in politics such as Ong Kian Ming and Dyana Sofya who are actually out there leading the charge by example in encouraging Malaysians to live heathier. Whether it’s participating in a colour run, running in a long distance race or doing a fitness challenge, they and KJ are showing us how it’s done.

God knows, we need all the help we can get as we are in dire need of change in our eating habits and lifestyle.

According to a study published in The Lancet last year, 49 per cent of women and 44 per cent of men in Malaysia were found to be overweight or obese. When placed against regional data and in comparison to neighbouring countries, it is sobering to realise that this country has the highest obesity rates in South-east Asia.  

Based on World Health Organisation (WHO) 2011 data, we are in first place as the “fattest country” in the region at 44.2 per cent of the population being overweight or obese. Thailand (32.2 per cent) and Singapore (30.2 per cent) have the silver and bronze respectively. The global rate is 30 per cent.

With more than four million people in this country being obese and one in seven children classified as such compared to a decade ago when it was 10 per cent, the Health Minister Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam declared last year that there was an ongoing obesity epidemic.

With a large proportion of the population in such a state, it is no wonder that the numbers of people inflicted with Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and other obesity-related illnesses are going through the roof.

Today, an estimated three million adults out of a population of 30 million have diabetes. One in five Malaysians are living with this condition. The prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among Malaysian adults has risen to 22.6 per cent compared to 14.9 per cent in 2006. Children as young as seven are developing Type 2. Not too long ago, this type of diabetes used to be seen only in adults over 45.

Diabetes is the leading cause of stroke, heart disease, blindness, and kidney failure. It is also one of the leading causes of leg or foot amputation. It is no coincidence that the increase in the number of people with diabetes is concurrent to those who are overweight or obese.

Yet very few people have realised that the kenduri is over.

Despite our frequent calls at the mamak shop for kurang manis, we continue to consume 26 teaspoons of sugar daily as compared to the WHO’s recommendation of five teaspoons. It is staggering to know that Malaysians are currently the 8th largest sugar consumers in the world.

Whether it’s teh tarik, kopi kaw, deep fried chicken, rice with ayam masak cili padi, kari kepala ikan, bak kut teh with accompanying yu char kueh or any of a hundred other yummilicious stuff, we have to cut down. Less sugar, less santan, less rice and less sweetened condensed milk.

Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin doing the hula hoop. ― Picture taken from MyRapid Facebook page

There has been talk of banning 24 hour food outlets, reducing or eliminating altogether the subsidy on sugar (I am personally in favour of this) and other Big Brother kind of remedies, which our government is rather fond of, to impose a change on Malaysian lifestyles. But the truth is that Malaysians themselves must wake up to the reality that we need to change our food intake and be more active.

A fitness campaign, Fit Malaysia, was begun last year with this intent and now has spread nationwide. It looks promising. Whether it is running, cycling, swimming, playing badminton, football or doing line dancing and Sh’baam/ Zumba, the whole country is being asked to get off their collective asses and be more physically active. In each of these Fit Malaysia events thousands voluntarily sweat it out in a variety of sporting activities.

But it is still a long way to go before we can achieve a mind-set and culture which thrives and revels in outdoor activity similar to that of countries like Australia.

We need to stop giving excuses such as the humid weather, tutup aurat or there not being enough public spaces for exercise. Look in the mirror today and imagine the kind of person you can be if you just aspire to be a bit healthier and fitter. It’s never too late to start. Let’s not be the wrong kind of statistic.

In the meantime, after seeing that video of KJ skipping rope, I’m going to go and try it, hopefully without accidentally  maiming myself or anyone in the process.

*This is the personal opinion of the columnist.