The Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs' decision to tie-up with tobacco companies for a youth anti-smoking campaign while 'paradoxical' would nonetheless allow the companies to make a 'positive contribution', its chairperson Syed Hamid Albar said today.

Speaking after the media launch for the campaign, he said the organisation was 'happy' for a chance to work together with two tobacco companies - British American Tobacco (BAT) and JT International (JTI) - on the campaign to prevent youth from smoking.

"Sometimes, it is viewed as paradoxical, but I think it is also important (for collaboration).

"It would be hypocritical for them (tobacco companies) to say that they do not want people to smoke at all, but in this particular case, the segment that concerns them is the youth segment and they want to make a positive contribution," said Syed Hamid, who is also foreign affairs minister.

Asked whether such partnerships may bring unneeded publicity for cigarette companies at a time when the government was tightening advertising controls for tobacco, he said the decision was made after considering how such backing could further MAYC's efforts to prevent smoking among youth.

"There is no question that MAYC is supportive of the government's effort to eradicate tobacco overall, but we felt we had to make a choice that would benefit the youth,"he said.

Health risks

Earlier in his speech Syed Hamid commended the two tobacco companies' for their willingness to participate in the anti-smoking campaign, as it "... illustrates that they are good and responsible corporate citizens, willing to help the government curb smoking, particularly among the youth".

BAT managing director Andrew Gray also defended his company's controversial role in the anti-smoking campaign.

"We have clear position that smoking is a choice of an informed adult. And we really believe there are severe health risks associated with smoking and only an adult can make an informed decision whether to smoke or not," said Gray.

When asked, he declined to say how much BAT and JTI would be spending in its collaboration with the MAYC.

"It is very difficult to put numbers for these campaigns. There are direct expenses and there are indirect expenses. How do you measure that? These are long term investments," he said.

TV commercial

Public health interest groups have slammed MAYC's decision to work with the tobacco companies, saying that the move only served to give tobacco companies a cloak of respectability and detracted from the government's move to impose greater controls on the industry.

The National Poison Centre's Centre for Tobacco Control (C-Tob) was the latest to join the fray today, calling on MAYC to reject big tobacco companies' sponsorship money.

The health ministry estimated that in 2003, 22 percent of the population smoked, and the trend was expected to move upwards.

Cigarettes, according to the ministry, were the cause of some 25 percent of health-related deaths in the country.

As part of today's media launch, the MAYC unveiled a television spot aimed at increasing public awareness on the law prohibiting the sale of cigarettes to those aged below 18.

The commercial will be aired over RTM2, TV3, NTV7 and 8TV for three months from June 11 and in cinemas for five months beginning next month.