Prioritise meaningful increase in tobacco taxation

THE Social and Economic Research Initiative (Seri) strongly supports the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday on the expansion of Malaysia’s pro-health tax regime to include tobacco, vape, and alcohol products (online at bit.ly/star_vapetax) under the 13th Malaysia Plan.

This move recognises the urgent need to address the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases, which are responsible for more than two-thirds of deaths in Malaysia and place a growing strain on our healthcare system and national productivity.