I refer to the letter Consider whipping, higher fine for errant smokers . I don't know if the president of the Cassa consumer group is serious when he recommends whipping as a deterrent to smokers. Addiction to nicotine is a proven health problem. Why punish someone with a health problem? Will he next suggest whipping for those who drink coffee since caffeine is also addictive and a possible health hazard?

The suggestion of whipping smokers reflects a mentality that believes that the use of force and compulsion will make people comply. It is a typical Malaysian thing, an insult to our intelligence that Malaysians are not capable of making clever choices, cannot understand reason and must be beaten into submission or are driven only by fear. This coming from the president of a consumer group is most unfortunate.

Come on, let's have some civilised suggestions instead of silly measures. Whipping is against our human rights, a barbaric form of punishment that has no place in modern society. It is an insult to human dignity.

Malaysia is too much of a nanny state already without people clamouring for smokers to be whipped and head-shaven women to be chastised. Much can be gained from Western countries which over the years have seen their smoking statistics drop especially among young people. In Asia, we see a disturbing trend in the rise of cigarette smoking among young women. There are many factors for the rise of smoking in Asia and part of that is due to the dumping policies of tobacco companies plus a media that portrays smoking as cool when in fact smoking is the worst thing anyone can do to his or her lungs.

Many governments are hypocritical about smoking because taxes on cigarettes are a substantial cash cow. If governments are serious about curbing or stopping the unhealthy practice of cigarette smoking, they should stop the tobacco industry altogether. Ban smoking, ban cigarette advertising, and make help available to all those who want to stop smoking. Stopping new smokers is more effective than merely helping existing smokers to stop.

Many start to smoke out of curiosity but the addictive nature of nicotine soon hooks them. As a former smoker (I started when I was 17), I can vouch that smoking is one of the greatest pleasures in life. But when I found a solid reason why I should stop, I quit overnight when I was in my early twenties. My parents were also smokers but they also stopped in their fifties.

People will be able to stop smoking when they find a good reason to stop. As the saying goes, 'If there is a will there is a way'.

More places including hotels and pubs need to ban smoking in Malaysia. They are still behind many Western countries in this area of deterring smoking. The banning of smoking in restaurants and bars increases their business contrary to claims it will do the opposite.

The health hazard of passive smoking is worse than actual smoking. We need to inculcate in people that acting responsibly when smoking is wise just as we need to educate people about the dangers of drink driving and road safety. Public education is the best method of achieving social change.

Many years ago Malaysians used to spit onto the floor of coffee shops and the streets but the practice is virtually non-existent now. Civilised people need not be whipped to do sensible things for their own good.