The Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) today called on the Health Ministry to enforce the ban on cigarette packs containing less than 20 sticks as scheduled.

The association was responding to reports that the government had deferred the ban, slated for this June, to next June.

"The ministry should be protecting the health of the nation and not business concerns. Stop playing with people's health," said its president SM Mohamed Idris in reference to reports that the ministry is considering appeals from tobacco companies.

"The industry players have already been given ample warnings before the ban was to come into force. They do not need to be pampered further," he added in a statement.

Smaller cigarettes packs are relatively cheaper thus making them more accessible to youngsters.

According to reports, the delay of the ban will give an edge to the tobacco industry, which has apparently been besieged by fears of falling profit margins and lowered sales.

Major killer

Mohamed Idris said about 50 children pick up smoking each day here. Those between the ages of 12 and 18 constitute 20 percent of the six million smokers in Malaysia.

"Deaths from tobacco-related diseases are estimated at 10,000 a year, making it a major killer in the country," he added.

Studies have also proven that men who smoke, shorten their lives by 13.2 years on average whereas female smokers lose 14.5 years.

Malaysia has also given the green light to an international tobacco congress and exhibition which will be held on Nov 14-16 in Kuala Lumpur.

This evoked strong objections from various local and international health organisations, who said it ran contrary to the RM100 million 'Tak Nak' campaign launched by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to curb smoking.

When contacted, Health Ministry Disease Control Director Ramlee Rahmat declined to comment on the extension.

Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek is currently abroad.

Minister's letter

Singapore's Business Times reported on March 30 that Chua had written a letter dated Feb 28 to BAT Malaysia, the country's biggest cigarette company, to inform them about the new development.

The daily quoted the minister's letter as saying that the plan to defer the date came about "after considering appeals from various quarters".

The new date for the ban will now be June 1, 2006, instead of June 23 this year.

"The minister's about-turn is likely to infuriate anti-tobacco groups which were largely successful in lobbying the government to push through tough anti-tobacco legislation last year. But it will give respite to a RM5.4 billion industry besieged by tax hikes and cut-throat competition," said the daily.