MMA: Remove tobacco subsidies

Doctors want the Government to ban duty-free tobacco products and phase out subsidies to the tobacco industry, including farmers.
The Malaysian Medical Association said the absence of official support would have a telling effect on demand for, and thereby the use of, tobacco products.
MMA president Datuk Dr Teoh Siang Chin said the Cabinet’s decision to ratify the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was a step in the right direction, but that more could be done, including:

* ensuring a strong political will and commitment to a "Health First" policy;

* increasing tobacco taxes incrementally and using a portion of it to support tobacco-free sports, arts, cultural and popular events as well as banning the sponsorship of such activities by tobacco companies;

* establishing an ASH Foundation (Action on Smoking and Health) for tobacco control activities in Malaysia and setting up related clubs in all schools;

* taking measures to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke by increasing the number of smoke-free areas, especially at the workplace;

* providing support to tobacco farmers and workers to ease their transition to other occupations; and,

* taking steps to eliminate the tobacco industry’s participation in tobacco control initiatives and social development programmes.

There are more than 25 tobacco-related diseases, including cancer of the lungs, oral cavity and pharyn.

Don’t blame us, says tobacco group
"Don’t blame us" is the response of cigarette manufacturers to reports that more youths are now smoking.
Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers chief executive Shaik Abbas Ibrahim said the industry had not only been strictly adhering to all laws introduced by the Government to check smoking among youths, but had sponsored millions of ringgit to finance them.
"No matter what we do, there are some who have an axe to grind and would blame us for everything," he said when contacted.
He was responding to a New Straits Times report yesterday which said that more youths were smoking now, and there had been cases of those as young as 18 seeking treatment for lung cancer.
Shaik Abbas said the industry had even stopped advertising at points-of-sale and told retailers to stop selling cigarettes to those below 18.
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