Malaysia fast food ad rules to proceed

KUALA LUMPUR - The self-regulation of fast food advertising will go ahead despite the controversial resignation of the country's health minister, Chua Soi Lek.

Chua resigned last week after admitting that he was the man in a widely-circulated sex video. Malaysian 4As president Datuk Vincent Lee confirmed that the proposals would go ahead, calling them a “sensible move forward”.

Letters have gone out to agencies and TV stations advising them of the new regulations.

 The main stipulation for fast food companies is that they refrain from advertising around programmes where young children constitute four per cent or more of the audience.

The 4As has been appointed as a watchdog to ensure the regulations are adhered to.

The health minister instigated a move towards tighter control of fast food advertising in May last year, when a national newspaper quoted him as suggesting that fast food was as unhealthy as alcohol and tobacco.