Anti-smoking competition draws record-breaking entries

(From left) MMA Action on Smoking and Health Committee advisor Professor Datuk Dr Lekhraj Rampal, Muruga, and Murallitharan with the certificate from Malaysia Book of Records.

The 28th National Anti-Smoking Poster Drawing Competition has made it into the Malaysia Book of Records (MBR) for the Most Number of Anti-Smoking Poster Drawings in a Competition, with a total of 24,248 entries.

The competition was organised by the Malaysian Medical Association’s (MMA) action on smoking and health (ASH) committee in collaboration with the Health and Education ministries, National Cancer Society of Malaysia and the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control.

MBR presented a certificate to ASH committee chairman Dr Murallitharan Munisamy was.

“MMA ASH has been steadfast in organising the National Anti-Smoking Poster Drawing Competition yearly to spread the message of the dangers of tobacco,” said Dr Murallitharan in a media statement.

“With these many entries from all over the country, we are confident this important message has been taken to heart and that the public fully supports initiatives on tobacco control in Malaysia,” he said.

The competition was themed “We Need Food, Not Tobacco – Ke Arah Generasi Tanpa Merokok” and was held from Feb 9 to April 30. It had three categories – Primary Schools, Secondary Schools and University/College/Public with RM750, RM1,000 and RM2,000 respectively as first prize for each category.

“MMA’s ASH committee has for many years been actively involved in numerous anti-smoking campaigns in schools and for the public, educating on the dangers of smoking,” said MMA president Dr Muruga Raj Rajathurai.

“It is estimated that 3,500 out of 10,000 deaths in Malaysia each year are related to smoking. It is a serious concern especially among our youths.

“According to the Health Ministry, about 20% of teenagers smoke while 85% of teenagers end up as cigarette addicts,” he said.

The prize-giving ceremony for the competition winners will be held on World No Tobacco Day today at the Dewan Hang Tuah, Jalan Munshi Abdullah in Melaka.

“We hope that the message of the campaign will be remembered by the thousands of schoolchildren who have participated or heard of the competition,” said Dr Muruga.