KUCHING, July 18 -- Public health policies should place greater emphasis on tackling overnutrition, as it is a major contributor to the rising incidence of diabetes among Sarawakians, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.

Dr Sim said while undernutrition remains an issue, it affects only a small percentage of the population compared with overnutrition, which now requires greater attention.

"Undernutrition is still there, not to say that we don't have it, maybe two or three per cent, but overnutrition is 50 per cent. Isn't that also a problem?

"In the past, we focused too much on that two or three per cent, but now we also need to focus on the 50 per cent.

"Because this 50 per cent are at risk of diabetes and could suffer man...