LETTERS: TWO of my family members died of lung cancer over the past five years due to smoking.
The misery they went through during treatment, especially in their final days, was horrific. On top of that, the family was subjected to emotional and physical stress.
We watched helplessly as our loved ones slipped away. Smoking kills, and that's a fact.
In Malaysia, lung cancer is the third most common type of cancer, with about 95 per cent of patients diagnosed at stages three and four.
Smoking is the primary reason for lung cancer in the country. According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity survey, more than 27,200 of deaths annually were related to smoking.
The report found that the smoking prevalence among Malaysians aged 15 and above to be 21.3 per cent, with an estimated 4.8 million people currently smoking. The prevalence of smokers in the 15 to 19 age group was 12.3 per cent.
Statistically, lung cancer is more lethal than Covid-19, which has a death toll of over 31,000 in the past two years.
So, when Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, recently announced that the government planned to table a Tobacco and Smoking Control Act at the next session of the Dewan Rakyat, I was elated.
We need tougher regulations on these "cancer sticks".
Khairy said that he was in favour of Malaysia adopting the New Zealand model of banning the sale of tobacco to anyone born after 2005.
Kudos to the minister.
I also wish to caution Khairy against being overzealous in getting Malaysians to kick the smoking habit.
I would go out on a limb and say that adult smokers in Malaysia are aware of the hazards of their habit. What they are struggling with is the addiction to the "high" cigarettes afford them.
So, if the government cracks down too hard too and fast on smoking, it would drive the habit underground, making it almost impossible to regulate and monitor.
So, a phased plan is desirable. This includes giving leeway to smokers, or complementing the drive with harm reduction products, like nicotine patches, heated tobacco devices or vaping that does not contain toxic substances.
At the end of the day, we want Malaysians to stay healthy and quitting smoking is a way to achieve this.
But, let's do this in a structured manner, where we can mitigate the blowback. Otherwise, our best intentions will end up in smoke.
RACHEL SOON
Kluang, Johor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times