While lauding Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's pledge to make cancer treatment more affordable, Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) wants the government to prioritise cancer prevention.

"CAP calls on the prime minister, and the government, to initiate a major and sustained anti-cancer drive that will see drastic changes to protect the health and environment for all Malaysians," said its president SM Mohd Idris (right) in a statement.

Citing that 12 percent of deaths in Malaysia are caused by cancer, Mohd Idris wants the government to tackle contributing factors to cancer, as approximately 40,000 new cases are detected annually.

For starters, Mohd Idris calls for the immediate ban on small cigarette packs (less than 20 sticks) and higher tobacco taxes, reminding the government that smoking is the most common cause of cancer among Malaysian males.

Obese Malaysians

CAP also wants the government to tackle the problems of obesity and keep a stringent check on fast-food products.

"Six percent of Malaysians are obese, while 21 percent are considered overweight [...] government policies and laws must keep in check the trends of favouring buffets with an incredible line-up of food and jumbo-sized meal portions at fast-food restaurants," he said.

He also called on the government to ban synthetic chemicals and cancer-causing pharmaceutical drugs while formulating laws that will prevent the close proximity of high-voltage powerlines with densely populated areas.