The health groups should support the Government's efforts to reduce smoking in the community. The Government, in return, should offer funds for smoking cessation activities. A long term strategy should be developed by the Cabinet to phase out tobacco as a commercial product. A fund should be established to assist sports bodies who may be affected by the loss of tobacco sponsorship. Some statistics on whether smoking in Malaysia is on the increase, and if so, the age at which Malaysians are most prone to taking up the habit.
Smoking is the major preventable cause of disease in the world.
It causes 3.5 million deaths per year. There are 1.1 billion smokers in the world. Smoking prevalence amongst Malaysian adults currently stood at 24.8 per cent. It is estimated that 45 and 50 Malaysian youths take up smoking daily. A large number of them would continue the habit till adulthood.