[Intl-tobacco] Malaysia: Anti-smoking campaign launched

[rob@essential.org]

Anti-smoking campaign launched
Sarawak Tribune
February 10, 2004

Putrajaya =8B Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched a
nationwide anti-smoking campaign yesterday and called for stricter
enforcement of the law to prohibit the sale of cigarettes to those under-18=
.

Abdullah said that the anti-smoking habit should be instilled among the
young right from school to ensure that they were aware of the negative
effects of smoking to prevent them growing into adults who were smokers.

"My message (to our children) is, take care, don=B9t be easily influenced i=
nto
taking up smoking by your peers. Don=B9t be ashamed to say no. The adults t=
oo
should stop smoking as it will not do them any good," he said when launchin=
g
the campaign which carries the slogan =8CSay No!=B9 at the Putrajaya Conven=
tion
Centre here.

Abdullah advised parents who smoke to try to stop the habit as it serves as
a bad example to their children. Abdullah said that the role of teachers an=
d
parents was vital in guiding the younger generation to stay away from
cigarettes as it would affect their studies and their health. Statistics
reveal that about 8 per cent of the estimated 4.6 million smokers in
Malaysia represents students. It was found that 50 to 60 teenagers start
smoking every day.

The government has allocated RM20 million a year for the next five years fo=
r
the anti-smoking campaign to prove its commitment to curb the smoking habit
among Malaysians.Abdullah said that he and former Prime Minister Tun Dr
Mahathir Mohamad had managed to stay away from cigarettes altogether.

"But I dare not say that anyone who does not smoke will become Prime
Minister," he said in jest at the launching, attended by some 3,000
students.

The Prime Minister said he hoped that by not smoking, the younger generatio=
n
would emerge as outstanding students, sportsmen and also workers and leader=
s
who could contribute towards the nation=B9s success.

Later, asked at a media conference on the rampant sale of cigarettes to
teenagers, he said:"We have to improve our enforcement to be more
effective." Abdullah said that the campaign was not only aimed at reducing
the number of smokers, it was also to discourage non-smokers to remain that
way.

"The campaign is for all levels of society and students are the main
target," he said. He said that the anti-smoking campaign should continue to
be held to ensure that there were fewer smokers in the country.

"If we were to continue with the campaign, like prohibiting smoking in
certain places by putting up signs, we hope the number of smokers among
Malaysians will be reduced eventually," he said.

Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng told the media conference that the
persuasion approach would be adopted in the campaign through direct
education based on scientific facts.Earlier in his speech, Chua said that
women and teenagers account for an increasing number of smokers as a result
of promotion by tobacco companies in expanding their respective marketing
network.

"Unfortunately, smoking is regarded as stylish and in keeping with the
lifestyle of a section of the society. It=B9s true that the public must be
explained clearly pertaining to smoking so that they can make a wise choice
when faced with the pressure to smoke," he said.

A series of anti-smoking adverstisements will be aired by the electronic
media to outline the negative effects of the smoking habit like lung cancer=
,
heart disease and stroke which may lead to death. =AD Bernama