The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) expresses serious concern over recent allegations of bribery linked to efforts to weaken or undermine tobacco control policies in Malaysia.
While such allegations must be investigated through proper legal channels, they must not be exploited to derail or discredit the implementation of effective public health laws.
As emphasised by MCTC president Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, “We must not allow allegations, pressure or intimidation — whether real or manufactured — to distract the country from the real issue, which is protecting public health through strong and enforceable tobacco control laws.”
Upholding The Integrity Of The Control of Smoking Products For Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852)
The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) is Malaysia’s first standalone and comprehensive tobacco control legislation, covering tobacco, vape, and all related nicotine products under a single legal framework.
This landmark law reflects decades of evidence-based policy development and Malaysia’s commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
Dr Murallitharan stressed that “Act 852 did not emerge overnight. It is the result of long-standing public health evidence, global best practices, and Malaysia’s obligation to safeguard its people — especially children — from nicotine addiction.”
MCTC reiterates that all stakeholders must remain committed to ensuring the success of Act 852, despite continued pressure from industry players and certain interest groups seeking to dilute its impact.
Ensuring Uniform And Equitable Implementation
Effective tobacco control depends on consistent and equitable enforcement nationwide. Weak or selective implementation risks rendering the law ineffective and undermining public confidence.
According to Dr Murallitharan, “Implementation must be uniform. Tobacco and nicotine products do not harm people selectively, and enforcement cannot be selective either.”
MCTC also notes positively the health minister’s openness to introducing a retail display ban, a proven measure internationally to reduce product visibility, impulse purchases, and youth initiation.
Impact Of Act 852 And The ‘Unfinished Business’ In Tobacco Control
MCTC supports conducting a comprehensive impact assessment of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH), to evaluate enforcement, compliance, and public health outcomes.
Upholding Tobacco Control Amidst Bribery Allegations And Industry Pressure
However, Dr Murallitharan cautioned that tobacco control in Malaysia still has “unfinished business”.
“Previous regulations allowed exemptions and grey areas, particularly in designated non smoking zones.
“These gaps must now be addressed decisively to achieve the core objectives of tobacco control: to protect the public from the harms of exposure to tobacco smoke, to reduce smoking prevalence in line with the tobacco endgame, and to safeguard children from the normalisation and influence of adult smoking in public spaces.”
Special attention is required for public walkways, city centres, high-density urban areas in cities such as Kuala Lumpur, and public areas, where non-smoking compliance remains weak and public exposure to second-hand smoke persists.
Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks And Governance
To protect public policy from industry interference, MCTC proposes:
- A formal code of conduct governing interactions between government and the tobacco and nicotine industry, consistent with Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
- Continuous benchmarking of Malaysia’s tobacco control measures against international public health standards.
- A review of minimum sales prices for all nicotine products,including conventional cigarettes, heated tobacco products and vaping products; aligned with any excise tax increases, to prevent affordability from undermining health objectives.
As Dr Murallitharan noted, “Tax policy alone is insufficient if products remain affordable. Price and access must be addressed together.”
Minimising Youth Access To Nicotine Products
MCTC strongly supports:
- A standardised minimum sales price across all nicotine product categories.
- Measures designed to deter access by individuals below 18 years of age.
- Robust enforcement to prevent product switching strategies targeting young users.
Beyond regulation, youth-focused tobacco control must include widespread public education and prevention initiatives, including the Tobacco VIP programme, with structured deployment in schools, higher education institutions, and community settings.
“If we fail to protect the young today,” Dr. Murallitharan warned, “we will pay the price in preventable disease, health care costs, and lost lives tomorrow.”
Malaysia has taken a critical step forward with the enactment of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852).
Its success now depends on political will, institutional integrity, and resistance to industry interference.
MCTC stands firmly with the MOH and all public interest stakeholders to ensure that tobacco control policies are implemented fully, transparently, and without compromise, in the interest of national health and future generations.
- This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of CodeBlue.
