THE initiative by the Health Ministry (MOH) of introducing new laws to curtail smoking, especially among Malaysian youths and future generations, may be undermined by the severity of the illegal cigarette trade.
The Dayak Transformation Association (TRADA) is of the opinion that this courageous move will be undermined by the high prevalence and easy availability of illegal cigarettes in Malaysia today, especially within poorer communities.
“People who sell these illegal cigarettes do not have to comply with any laws or regulations,” lamented TRADA’s president and founder Joseph Anak Janting.
“In fact, if MOH’s Generation End Game is put in place, we believe there would be a boom for illegal cigarettes, as people who are banned from buying legal products will source their cigarettes from these unscrupulous vendors who are aplenty around Malaysia.”
As it is, six out of 10 cigarettes sold in Malaysia today are illicit cigarettes that are manufactured overseas or locally, according to Joseph.
“In my home state of Sarawak, the problem is even worse. Illegal cigarettes today command more than 80% of the market,” he revealed.
“Wherever you go, you can see people selling and smoking contraband brands. It is a serious problem. I urge the Health Minister and its officers in Putrajaya to visit Sarawak to have a better sense of the dire illicit cigarette situation here and to see the complexity of implementing the new law over here.”
Being a youth and community advocacy group, TRADA further urged MOH to be steadfast in its attempt to curtail smoking prevalence in Malaysia by tackling the illegal cigarettes trade first before putting in place new laws and regulations that will be in line with the national health agenda.
“The most significant factor driving illegal cigarettes business is the price difference between legal and contraband products,” reckoned Joseph.
“In Sarawak, the most popular contraband brands, namely Era and Premium, are priced at only RM5 compared to RM12 for the cheapest legal product. People with lower income have no choice but to buying these cheap illegal cigarette, which are widely available.”
Towards this end, Joseph said the Government must seriously look into excise and tax reforms, enforcing the law on perpetrators of illegal cigarettes trade and to end corruption that fuels this unlawful trade so that MOH can implement its initiatives effectively.
In the upcoming Parliamentary session which begins on July 18, MOH is planning to table a set of regulations to curtail smoking and vaping, including banning the sale of cigarettes and vape products to those born after 2005 (Generation End Game), restricting publicly displaying cigarette products for sale and implementing plain packaging on cigarettes. – July 9, 2022
