KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal to prohibit the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to anyone under 21 years old is a step in the right direction. However, if passed by Parliament, there must be stringent enforcement of the law to ensure its effectiveness.
Parent Action Group for Education chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim said the challenge laid in enforcing the new regulation as there would be no impact if there was no effective enforcement.
“There must be proper enforcement. Often, we see kids puffing away outside schools and the teachers’ hands are tied. Who is going to tell the kids to stop smoking?
“Perhaps the government can consider extending the authority to teachers to put a stop to any child found smoking outside a school.
“Give them the authority. Tell us what we can do to help ensure a healthy smoke-free society.”
Malaysian Green Lung Association co-founder and president Ho Rhu Yann said by increasing the legal age of buying cigarettes to 21, this would disallow teenagers to use tobacco products.
“By age 21, they will be more mature to think of the consequences of smoking from health and financial perspectives, and be assertive enough to reject peer pressure.
“It requires commitment from policymakers and enforcers to act, for instance, to prohibit the sale of loose cigarettes.
“The desired outcome will not be possible if a policy remains on paper. It requires sustainable efforts from government agencies, religious bodies, non-governmental organisations and the public to tackle this issue from different perspectives.”
Ho also urged the government to extend the minimum age to all tobacco products, including hookah, shisha and e-cigarettes that appeal to a younger market as alternatives to cigarettes.
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations vice-president Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman said although there was no telling whether those who want to smoke would wait until age 21, the move would at least help reduce tobacco use among teenagers.
“The government should look into increasing the number of smoke-free zones nationwide,” he said, adding that teachers need to be given the power to monitor students inside and outside schools.
Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association chief activist Datuk Nadzim Johan said a behavioural change was crucial to overcome smoking. They should be educated from young about the dangers of tobacco use.