By R. Sittamparam

MALAYSIA  aims to become an anti-smoking advocacy role model for the Asean region by 2010.

The Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC) gave this assurance at the recent Regional Workshop on Tobacco Control and Sustainable Development organised by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (Seatca) here last week.

Its president K. Koris Atan said Malaysia recognised the harmful effects of tobacco use not only on smokers but also on the public.

Koris said Malaysia took seriously the World Health Organisation's findings that two people die each minute from tobacco-related diseases in the Western Pacific region.

He said another shocking statistic was that a third -- or 430 million -- of the world's smokers are found in the region. "Malaysia is complying with the three-pronged measures of phasing out tobacco growing, increasing tobacco tax and restricting smoking in public areas.

"We're already leading the region in efforts to phase out tobacco growing having introduced alternative crops like kenaf, jatropa and sweet potato and rearing of sheep, goats, cattle and fish."

Koris said the National Tobacco Board was now being transformed into the National Kenaf and Tobacco Board, to promote growing of kenaf at 15,000ha of tobacco land in Kelantan, Trengganu and Pahang.

Koris, who presented an overview on Malaysia's priorities on tobacco control on the final day of the Seatca workshop here, said the Tobacco Control Act Bill had already been drafted by the Health Ministry.

"MCTC is urging the ministry to give number one priority to the bill and to speedily hand it over to the Attorney-General's Chambers for approval in order for it to be tabled in Parliament soon.

Koris said the proposed legislation would include a provision for retailers of tobacco products to be licensed as is the case with liquor dealers.

He said the new law would give more clout to the authorities to act against those who smoke in public places.

"The Control of Tobacco Products Regulation was recently amended to include graphic messages on cigarette packets. This will be launched soon.

"Pictures of health hazards caused by smoking will help reduce the number of smokers, especially among the young."

He also said MCTC would oversee the implementation of control measures.