Malaysia is seen as the potential hub for the tobacco industry as Malaysians are still taken in by the smoking hype of 'cool lifestyles' promoted in advertisements and movies.

People in developed countries are avoiding, reducing or quitting the smoking habit but the reverse is sadly true in a developing nation like Malaysia, National Poison Centre project manager Yong Check Yoon told malaysiakini today.

Tobacco companies, he said, were also tapping into the large non-smoking Asian woman population.

Responding to an international tobacco congress and exhibition which will be held on Nov 14-16 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Yong urged the government to send a clear signal to the industry that Malaysia is not going to be part of their grand scheme of things.

"The government should walk the talk, especially when smoking is silently killing 10,000 Malaysians annually," he said.

He stated that to allow the expo to be held in Kuala Lumpur will prove that corporate profits have been placed above public health.

"We should not consider short-term financial gains and miss long-term problems linked to smoking," said Yong.

Contradict objectives

According to him, smoking is burdening the country with its medical costs in treating smoking-related diseases. It also contributes to the loss in work productivity and paving opportunities for drug abuse.

Yong said that the international congress should not be permitted at all as it will be contradicting the objectives of tobacco control as Malaysia is the 63rd signatory for the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Meanwhile, Education and Research Association for Consumers research manager Chubashini Suntharalingam joined the chorus in protesting against the congress to be held in Kuala Lumpur.

"It only goes to show that the government is not serious in enforcing its stand on tobacco control," she said.

Educational and public awareness campaigns like 'Tak Nak' posters or messages, pictorial warnings on cigarette packs, advertising ban, countering illicit trade in tobacco products, ban on cigarette sales to minors, increase tobacco tax and creating smoke-free workplaces are among the continuous efforts taken by the authorities to prevent or discourage smoking among local consumers.

"However, there is still so much to do as there are about 4.3 million smokers in our country," she added.

Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi launched a nationwide 'Tak Nak' campaign Feb last year to encourage below-18 youth to kick the smoking habit.

The November congress themed 'Emerging Tobacco Markets' is organised by Tabexpo Coalition, comprising Tobacco Reporter and Tobacco Journal International based in the United States and Germany respectively.