I refer to the letter regarding the Malacca Football Association (Mafa) and their intention to obtain sponsorship from a tobacco company. To me, Mafa is defying the government's aspiration to reduce the number of Malaysian smokers (4.6 million of them).

It is also openly violating a ban on tobacco sponsorship for football. If Mafa proceeds with its plans and if the tobacco industry accepts, it will tantamount to an unholy collusion between the two parties to knowingly break the country's law.

The tobacco industry is well aware of the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations and they should stay away from sponsoring in any form, even if Mafa or any organisation is interested. Hopefully, the industry will apply its corporate responsibility and promote corporate governance and uphold the related regulations.

The industry has flouted our law time and again. Cigarette advertising and sponsorship has long been banned and yet Marlboro was still seen at our Formula 1 and other motor-racing events as seen on our local television sports programmes.

Similarly, the provision in our regulations that bans the sale of cigarettes in pack of less than 14 sticks was put on hold on the tobacco industry's advice that reduction in the sales of the tobacco will affect our tobacco farmers' livelihood. The industry failed to highlight the real reason of the provisions, that is to save our children from starting to smoke and this is certainly a much bigger problem than the farmers' issues.

While the farmers, being adults, can be provided with an alternative source of income, young smokers are doomed to addiction for the rest of their lives. Whilst these underage children and youth make the tobacco industry highly profitable, the same underage children and youth who are smokers create various problems ranging from juvenile delinquency to social, health issues and economic issues as they grow into adulthood enslaved by nicotine addiction.

The motorcycle races of the Mat Rempit are illegal but they, too have the support of many spectators and participants. Based on the type of argument by the Mafa chairman, does it mean that we have to legalise their activities?

We would advise the Mafa chairman to check with the Ministry of Health to allow him to be updated on matters relating to the tobacco regulations. This before going public and be seen to be defying the law. Moreover, the anti-tobacco regulations were formulated with the purpose of protecting Malaysians. Besides, every aspect of tobacco control is backed by hard evidence. .

The writer is president, Malaysian Women's Action for Tobacco Control and Health (MyWatch).