“This is rubbish. Fighting the illegal cigarette market and reintroducing ‘kiddie packs’ are different issues all together,” she told FMT, adding that any move to introduce smaller, 10-stick packets of cigarettes known as “kiddie packs”, was merely an attempt by pro-tobacco groups to entice young people to light up.
Dr Cheah said Malaysia would become a laughing stock if the country reintroduced the 10-sticks pack.
“We banned kiddie packs about 10 years ago and we have also ratified the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). How can we turn back on what we have done so far?” she asked.
She added since Malaysia signed and ratified FCTC, the government should look into the guidelines provided under the treaty to fight the illegal cigarette market.
“There are so many FCTC’s strategies. And the government should look at them.”
It was recently reported that there was talk the government was considering bringing back the kiddy packs.
However, Health Minister Dr S Subramaniam dismissed such talk saying the government would not reintroduce “kiddie packs” as a measure to combat contraband cigarettes.
He said the suggestion to put “kiddie packs” on the shelves was an excuse by industry lobbyists who claimed that the move could check cigarette smuggling which is said to have caused a rise in the number of smokers in the country.
He estimated five million or 23% of smokers in the country were aged between 15 and 50 years.
Last year, it was reported that the coffee shops’ association wanted the government to allow smaller cigarette packs in the market, saying it would stop smokers from purchasing cheap illegal cigarettes.
Malaysia Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors’ General Association chairman Ho Su Mong had said the current prices for 20-stick packs were too expensive, causing smokers to buy illegal packs.
“Retailers who are law abiding are fed up of losing business to irresponsible operators who sell illegal cigarettes, and also sell to minors,” he had been reported to have said.
British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, or BAT, said that smaller pack cigarettes could benefit government and businesses.
The company claimed an average of 60% of cigarettes in the Malaysian market were illegal, and that this caused the government to lose out in excise tax revenue.