On Feb 21, the Health Ministry’s Institute for Public Health posted “Tobacco and E-cigarette Survey among Malaysian Adolescents” (Tecma) on its website.

It was the first national study on tobacco, e-cigarettes and vape usage among Malaysians aged between 10 and 19. The survey found that more than one in five male adolescents are smoking cigarettes, with 36.8 percent smoked two to five sticks per day.

Under the Health Ministry’s Control of Tobacco Product (Amendment) Regulations 2017, smoking is no longer allowed at campsites, game courts, playgrounds, and public parks.

Although smoking by anyone below age 18 is an offence under the law, more than half of the preteens and teenagers said they were not prevented from buying tobacco products.

Shockingly, one in five 10-year-olds smoke.

I started smoking when I was 16 and smoked the heaviest at age 18. Not only did I prefer unfiltered cigarettes, I have also tried two at the same time just to get more smoke.

It is a popular belief that smokers are addicted to nicotine but I am not sure whether this happened in my case. I enjoyed the sensation when inhaling smoke into my lungs.

In my early twenties, I would be smoking and drinking beer while bowling, a triple dose of excitement, but thankfully I have never indulged in drugs.

I was also a discerning smoker and could tell the brand of cigarette blindfolded or those left unsold in the shelf for too long. I shunned duty-free cigarettes as the smell would be different if produced in different country, although the brand and packaging were the same.

But I knew cigarettes were very damaging to my health. After swimming a few laps in a 50 metre swimming pool and blowing hot air from my mouth on my palm, I could feel the heat.

I tried giving up smoking many times and eventually succeeded in October 1975, and had not smoked since. In November 1988, I could swim non-stop for three hours and swam every day for that month.

Luckily, I did not suffer any ill effects from my heavy smoking during my younger days. But I am irritated by inconsiderate smokers in coffee shops and non-air-conditioned restaurants.

The worst are those smoking in front of babies and young children, including their own. It is amazing some people are ignorant about the danger of second-hand smoke or just not bothered.

Apart from releasing the findings of Tecma, the Institute for Public Health should introduce more effective measures to stem the tide, as laws without strict enforcement will not work.