Scale up healthy lifestyle activities for Malay community, says MP

SINGAPORE — With a drop-off in the activity levels of the older generation, and Malay male seniors not that keen to participate in healthy lifestyle activities, more can be done to address this gap, Member of Parliament Mr Zaqy Mohamad said on Sunday (Sept 24).

Speaking on the sidelines of a mass walk in his Chua Chu Kang constituency, where more than 700 residents pounded the streets, Mr Zaqy said the Malay community also lacks a "cultural equivalent" of group activities like qigong, for instance.

So grassroots organisations could look at scaling up more community activities that promote healthy living and wellness, and do more health screenings, to involve everyone from the various races, he added.

Sunday's walk, a joint effort between local mosques and grassroots organisations in Chua Chu Kang GRC, Limbang Division and Yew Tee Division, was one such effort to encourage a healthy lifestyle among the Malay community in the fight against diabetes.

The response from residents was "encouraging", given that it is the first such walk organised in the area, Al-Khair Mosque vice chairman Abdul Wahab said. And a larger-scale walk will take place next year.

"The government (and organisations) are already on this, so the bottom line is that people have to eat moderately and exercise," he said. "Everyone has to work together on this."

At the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong described diabetes as a "health crisis" especially for Malays and Indians.

He noted that six in 10 Indians and half of Malays above the age of 60 were diabetic, compared with 2.5 in 10 Chinese Singaporeans.

Mr Zaqy told TODAY that people are becoming "more receptive" to such health messages and becoming conscious of the need to stay active.

Malay women between the ages of 45 and 60 are more likely than the men to be involved in group activities like going to the gym or doing zumba together, he added.

For instance, teacher Latifah Hassan, 51, who was at the morning walk, does zumba with her fitness group every week.

Her family has also been trying out brown rice, steering clear of unhealthy cooking methods like using a deep fryer, opting for an air fryer instead, and having a well-balanced diet.

"(It's not about how expensive brown rice is), but that we need to get our taste buds used to it," she said.

Realtor Salmah Roslan, 53, who does yoga and zumba, has also made the switch to brown rice at home and forks out about S$6 for a 2.5kg pack.

"I (do it) because (exercise and eating right) is good for the heart," she said. "It's all about discipline."

In Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, MP Saktiandi Supaat said current outreach efforts include providing exercise machines tailored for the elderly and training on how to use them as well as monthly community walks.

He also urged groups like the People's Association Malay Activity Executive Committees to step up efforts to promote more of these activities.

"We have to start being more creative about how we can (get) some of the men to come down for activities that we (organise)," he said.

"(But) we don't want to give the impression that it's just focused on the Malay community only," he added.

"It's a Singapore-wide effort ... It's good to make it broad, so we can focus on the whole community - healthier living, healthier eating and exercise."