A mockery of the Tak Nak campaign

Anti-smoking groups are crying foul over the Cabinet's decision to defer the ban on cigarettes in packs of 14.
Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations secretary-general Mohammad Sha'ani Abdullah said the decision made a mockery of the Tak Nak anti-smoking campaign.
Using “farmers' interest” as the reason for the deferment was a lame excuse, he said, accusing the Government of succumbing to the lobbying of tobacco companies.
He added that the relevant authorities as well as the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry should have planned a long time ago on alternative crops for the affected farmers.
This was because the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control had been in place for some time.
The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control asked the Government to immediately reverse its decision.
“We are not happy with the Cabinet's decision as the continued sale of the “kiddy” packs will only increase the prevalence of adolescent smokers,” said council president Prof Dr Syed Mohamed Aljunid.
“The pack of 14 cigarettes is affordable to school children, and the tobacco industry specifically targets such youngsters.
However, the decision is good news for the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers.
Chief executive Shaik Abbas Ibrahim said that after the hefty tax increase early this year, the market had seen a double-digit contraction.
For the first time, he noted, manufacturers listed on the local bourse indicated profit declines in their first quarter results.
He said the quota for local tobacco leaf too had been reduced by 30% from the 2004 level, leaving farmers with lower incomes.
“As such, tobacco farmers must also be equally delighted with this new development,” he added.
Source