Raise tax for tobacco and cigarette prices

MANY in Malaysia are hoping for no new taxes and no increases in any of the existing taxes. But in the coming Budget 2018, the Government should seriously consider raising tobacco tax and price of tobacco-based products if they are serious about curbing smoking.

This is one of the most effective ways to reduce cigarette consumption among smokers and deter potential new smokers. It is recognised by a few tobacco control experts and also the parties in the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO – FCTC), of which Malaysia has been a party since 2005.