A group of concerned citizens is poised to file law suits against cigarette companies for the first time in Malaysian history to force them to account for the health woes linked to their products.

Malaysia Anti-Smoking Association (Masa) Pro-tem Committee expressed confidence that some of the cases it had prepared against the tobacco companies would be successful.

Its president, Koh Eng Bing, said the committee had received tremendous response from the public after they made an announcement of their intention to sue cigarette companies two months ago, some faxing in their complaints and others mailing in.

"Our lawyers are now studying the cases to see whether to proceed as class action or individual action," he told malaysiakini.

He said some of the cases appeared to have medical proof as the patients contracted health problems due to the smoking. "One of them had a doctor letter's to prove the clogging of the blood vessels arising from heavy smoking," he said

Koh added that he is seeking help from lawyers in Hong Kong who are experienced in tobacco lawsuits. However, they have yet to decide on when to initiate legal action pending a study by the lawyers.

Last December, Masa had prepared a list of people who are prepared to take legal action to seek compensation from cigarette companies. Koh added that Masa, an NGO established in May by a group of professionals to help raise public awareness on the dangers of smoking, would play a key role in the suits.

According to Koh, Masa is taking the legal recourse because it had given up hope that the government would help in their campaign against smoking.

He said even before Masa was formed, a number of anti-smoking campaigners had sent seven memorandums to government ministries, including the Health Ministry, Finance Ministry and Prime Minister's Office.

These memorandums strongly urged the government to take action to stem the increase of smokers, now totalling 1.6 million, and of whom about 17 percent are below 18 years of age.

In the United States, more than 3,000 children start smoking every day and five million Americans who are under 18 will die prematurely because they smoke.

Dennis Ownby, a pediatric allergist at Medical College of Georgia, had found that children whose parents smoke are eight times more likely to suffer sudden infant death syndrome, three or four times more likely to need tubes in their ears to combat chronic ear infections, and are more likely to be hospitalised for asthma and become smokers themselves

Meanwhile, Masa's application to the Registrar of Companies as an association to set up branches in all the states had been rejected, and they have been told to apply as an national association, but without the right to form branches.

"The registrar told us that we don't have nationwide activities, therefore we should not have branches," Koh said.

[#1]Cigarette companies to face law suits (Dec 28)[/#]