Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Public Health and Surveillance
Date Submitted: Sep 23, 2020
Date Accepted: Jun 7, 2021
Sugar-sweetened beverages tax in Malaysia: a content analysis of Malaysian online news coverage.
ABSTRACT
Background:
In Malaysia, the Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) tax was announced during the ‘2019 Budget Speech’ in the parliament. The tax was slated to be in April 2019 but was later postponed to July 2019. The announcement has since generated significant media coverage and public feedback.
Objective:
This qualitative and quantitative cross-sectional study using the netnography technique aims to examine how the Malaysian online news articles responded regarding SSBs tax after the announcement and post implementation.
Methods:
Online news articles published on popular online news portal from November 2018 to August 2019 after the announcement towards implementation of SSBs tax were downloaded using NCapture and imported into NVivo for analysis using the inductive approach and thematic content analysis.
Results:
A total of 62 news articles were analysed. Most of the articles portrayed (46.8%) positive stance towards SSBs tax by highlighting the health impacts of SSBs (40.3%). There were seven key framing arguments identified from the articles. The positive arguments revolved around; incentives to introduce healthier product voluntarily, the impact on government revenue, positive health consequences and usage of revenue generated for beneficial avenues. The negative arguments included increase of operating cost to manufacturer, increase of retail price of drinks and how SSBs tax is not a solution in combating obesity. The top priority sector identified as the consideration in introducing the tax made were from the health point of view, followed by economic purposes and creating healthy policies and to regulate the food and drinks industry or manufacturers.
Conclusions:
The majority online news articles were written in a positive slant towards the implementation of SSBs tax in Malaysia. This suggest that the media had played their role in supporting the health policy. Negative findings can be used by relevant bodies to anticipate opposition and assist in reframing and counteracting arguments opposed to SSB taxation.
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