A law is only as good as its enforcement

ON Tuesday, the long-awaited Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 finally came into force following its passage in February.

This legislation represents a critical step forward in the government’s ongoing battle to reduce the number of smokers in Malaysia.

Of course, the mere existence of this law is not enough. Its effective and immediate enforcement is needed to curb this habit that poses so much danger. The ambitious target is to reduce the number of adult smokers from 19% of the population to 15% by December 2025.

Even more important is the urgent need to reduce the number of young smokers in this country. Here, as well as around the world, the introduction of ecigarettes and vaping has led to a dramatic increase in the number of young smokers.

Vaping and its products have been left unregulated for too long, allowing businesses to sell to minors with no oversight of the amount of nicotine in the vape liquids they are offering.

Finally, we have this new law that has stricter regulations on the sale, promotion, and accessibility of smoking products, and will lend a measure of protection to minors.

We hope it will. A law is only as good as its enforcement. The legislation risks becoming ineffective without firm action from regulatory authorities and law enforcement. They must ensure compliance by imposing heavy penalties on those who sell smoking products to minors or use deceptive marketing practices online.

A zero-tolerance policy is needed here – the stakes are far too high to allow any leniency.

At the same time, reducing smoking rates demands a holistic approach that goes beyond laws and enforcement.

We need those anti-smoking campaigns. But they must be updated, relevant-to-the-times campaigns that connect with young people and remove the “cool” cachet of smoking, especially vaping.

The Health Ministry has laid the groundwork, but those efforts must be expanded and better integrated into educational curricula and public messaging.

Schools, in particular, must play a role in instilling awareness among young people the dangers of smoking before they are old enough to be legally targeted by tobacco companies.

Healthcare providers must also be given access to support those trying to quit. This includes access to counselling, nicotine replacement therapies, and a public healthcare system designed to make quitting smoking not just possible but likely.

Smoking-related diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory conditions claim tens of thousands of lives annually, and cost billions in medical expenses and lost productivity.

Every ringgit spent on enforcement and public health initiatives to reduce smoking will be repaid many times over by a healthier, more productive workforce, and reduced strain on healthcare infrastructure.

This isn’t just about personal choice or market freedom but also a public health issue crucial to our nation’s future well-being. By acting now, we can make the anti-smoking law the foundation of a healthier future, where smoking is no longer a societal burden and future generations are free from nicotine addiction.

Let’s ensure that the government, businesses, and the public are all aligned in this crucial mission. We cannot afford to wait any longer.