KUCHING: A non-governmental organisation has come out in support of the Health Ministry’s plan to ban the sale of cigarettes and all smoking-related products to those born after 2005.
It said the ministry’s rationale that this could drastically reduce the number of cancer deaths in future had merit as globally 27 per cent of cancer deaths have to do with tobacco and alcohol use.
“And 90 per cent of adult smokers in Malaysia started smoking before the age of 18,” said Sew Boon Lui, president of the Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (SCAN).
“Therefore, the implementation of a planned smoking ban by the ministry can certainly help alleviate cancer deaths in the long run,” she said.
In his World Cancer Day statement, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had said the ministry was studying the implementation of the ban and other provisions in the Tobacco and Smoking Control Act for tabling in parliament.
Sew hoped the bill would come with the necessary enforcement and education.
“We look forward to learn more about the strategic implementation plan to achieve this, she added.
She also floated the possibility of this move being slowly extended to a general ban on smoking.
“In addition, we wish the government will continue to enforce the smoking ban at public places like eateries.
“We should also not forget about helping those who are already smokers to quit,” she said.
Apart from that, SCAN also called upon the Health Ministry and Ministry of Education to improve cancer awareness education at all levels.
