With reference to a recent announcement that the Malacca Football Association (Mafa) is permitting its sponsorship by the tobacco industry, we wish to point out in no uncertain terms that it cannot (let us emphasise, cannot) accept such sponsorship from the industry.

This is because the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004 clearly states (under the section 'Prohibition on Tobacco Product Advertisement') that such sponsorship is banned from Dec 31, 2004. It does not matter if there are 60 representatives and the Mafa council backing the sponsorship. Mafa President Mohd Ali Rustam should abide by the law, otherwise it will send a wrong message to the rakyat that Malaysia has no respect for its own laws.

Moreover, Malaysia has ratified the World Health Organisation's treaty on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on Sept 16, 2005. Instead of doing the country proud by walking the talk, we have Mafa undoing the excellent efforts that our Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did for tobacco control. He launched the 'Tak Nak' campaign in 2004 and deposited the instrument of FCTC in New York in 2005.

Mafa's move will be equivalent to a tight slap in the government face because it is going against the aspirations of the government. The government has been touting to the world that it has made fantastic progress in tobacco control, that it has the comprehensive Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004, and soon will have the Tobacco Control Act.

If Mafa has its way, then we have to seriously ponder on the sanctity of the articles of law if they can be trampled upon with impunity.

If this is allowed, then who will be next in seeking such sponsorship? There will come a time when the excuse will be that there are so many sports clubs or associations sponsored by the tobacco industry that it is impossible to impose a ban. Such an excuse is not rare because we have been reading them so often in the news. Don't let a precedent start now.

The writer is attached to the Clearinghouse for Tobacco Control, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang.