CAP welcomes proposal to ban sale of tobacco products to those born after 2005

PETALING JAYA: The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) welcomes the proposal by the Health Ministry to ban the sale of tobacco products to those born after 2005.

CAP education officer NV Subbarow said it has been fighting for this for over 40 years and a lack of enforcement had seen children as young as 10 smoking, with girls aged 12 also picking up vaping.

"The ease of obtaining these products has resulted in many being eager to try them.

"You can also go to any corner of the country and purchase such products without problems," said Subbarow, an anti-smoking activist for the past 35 years.

Subbarrow added that sellers did not bother asking customers their age as they wanted to make money.

He said this could result in an increase of youths with cancer-related diseases nationwide.

"This is a figure we do not want to increase.

"Strict enforcement should be carried out as we want a healthy generation of youths," he said.

On Jan 26, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said he hoped the legislation banning the sale of tobacco and other related products to those born after 2005 would be passed this year.

He said this at the 150th Session of the WHO's Executive Board Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland.