CAP blames Internet for sleep deprivation phenomenon

The NGO also wants authorities to put a stop to 24-hour eateries, factory night-shifts and express bus services past midnight, among others.

GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), citing from surveys and studies, has warned that Malaysians are not getting enough sleep. Many are getting by on an average 6.4 hours of sleep a night, noted CAP, when they should have at least eight hours every night.

“Seventy-three per cent of adults interviewed agree that their online activities and social media networking are becoming addictive and depriving them of enough sleep every night,” said CAP President S M Mohamed Idris in a statement. “Mobile devices are also one of the leading causes of sleep-deprivation.”

The NGO, which primarily blames the Internet for this sleep-deprivation phenomenon, wants the authorities concerned to stop issuing 24-hour licences to eating outlets, end night-shifts at factories, disallow entertainment outlets from operating after midnight, and ban trips during the wee hours by express buses.

Elsewhere, it recommends a campaign, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, to create awareness on the importance of getting a good night’s sleep.

“Malaysians are taking the importance of sleep for granted,” said the CAP statement. “For example, driving during the period from 2am to 4am, when our body is preparing for deep sleep, is going against it.”

“This could result in accidents as cognition and response during the wee hours will be slower and wakefulness will not last as long as usual.”

The dangers posed by sleep-deprivation are many, continued the statement, resulting in significant health consequences.

The statement ended on the note that “early to bed, early to rise, makes a person healthy, wealthy and wise”.