Political will and enforcement vital to implement NZ anti-smoking law

Quitting smoking can add years and quality of life. - Dreamstime

IN Malaysia, tobacco kills more than 27,200 people each year, and an estimated 4.8 million people aged 15 and above in the country are smokers.

This dangerous addiction incurs significant costs to individuals and families and also adds up to major macroeconomic impacts affecting businesses, governments and healthcare systems.

“Cigarettes remain the only legal product that kills half of its regular users when consumed as intended by the manufacturer. Tobacco is deadly in any form or disguise, whether cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, shishas and so on,” says Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control Prof Datuk Dr Lekhraj Rampal.

Ideally, Malaysia should start implementing stricter laws against cigarette use like what is happening in New Zealand, says Dr Lekhraj. However, for this to become a reality, the government must have the political will to walk the talk.

New Zealand’s new anti-cigarette law aims at eventually creating a smoke-free country.

“In my professional opinion, this goal will not be achieved if the Malaysian government and ministers continue with the way they are tackling the problem. All ministers must understand the problem and work as a team, including working closely with NGOs and community leaders to solve the problem of tobacco use,” he says.

In comparison, Dr Lekhraj points out how New Zealand has been very active in controlling tobacco use since 1989, and is serious about the tobacco use “end game”.

While most developed countries have put a target of less than 5% smoking prevalence by 2025, Malaysia’s target is a dismal number – less than 15% by 2025 and less than 5% in 2040, says Dr Lekhraj, addressing the aims outlined in the National Strategic Plan on Tobacco Control 2021-2030.

As the first steps, Dr Lekhraj says that Malaysia must expedite the tabling of the Tobacco Control Bill – to regulate the use of tobacco and electronic cigarette products – in the next parliamentary sitting as this initiative has been postponed for nearly four parliamentary terms. He also advocates the banning of all e-cigarettes or vapes, of advertising of all tobacco products, and to raise the smoking age from 18 to 21, and to subsequently impose a generational ban on those born on and after 2009.

While most developed countries have put a target of less than 5% smoking prevalence by 2025, Malaysia’s target in the National Strategic Plan on Tobacco Control 2021-2030 is less than 15% by 2025 and less than 5% in 2040. – 123rf.com

The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations’ Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah is very supportive of introducing stringent laws against tobacco use in Malaysia.

Muhammad Sha’ani, who is the organisation’s Tobacco Control coordinator, explains that under the National Strategic Plan on Tobacco Control 2021-2030, Malaysia already intends to introduce a smoke-free generation, where people born from 2009 onwards would not smoke.

“Under the plan, there is already the aspect of creating a smoke-free generation. However, to make it legally binding, you need to amend the law to coincide with this mission,” he says.

“Most adult smokers started smoking as teens. Protecting children from becoming smokers is the easiest way to reduce smoking within the population,” Muhammad Sha’ani says.

He adds that in order to do this, enforcement must be stepped up alongside social sanctions driven by good leadership.

“The biggest challenge to stopping tobacco use is the influence of the tobacco industry on public policies via lobbying. Public backlash is one of the ways employed by the industry, with aggressive misinformation promoted regularly through front groups to sway politicians from making the right decisions,” Muhammad Sha’ani says.

One of the often touted reasons against a tobacco ban is loss of tobacco tax, but in truth the total healthcare cost to manage and treat diseases resulting from exposure to tobacco smoke is many times over the tax revenue generated from tobacco, says Muhammad Sha’ani.

He adds that laws alone will not achieve a tobacco free-world, as what is needed is the cooperation of the entire nation to achieve a big social change.

“There should no longer be any debate on whether or not it is feasible to end tobacco use, we should be thinking of ways to implement comprehensive tobacco control measures for the good of the generations to come. This is a form of sustainable development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Laws alone will not achieve a tobacco free-world, as what is needed is the cooperation of the entire nation to achieve a big social change. – AFP