KUCHING: Consumers Voice Association of Sarawak (Covas) does not support the move by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to increase the price of cigarettes, saying such move will not reduce smoking as there are many alternatives and various supply chains in the black market.
In a press statement yesterday, Covas president Michael Tiong said they doubted whether such move would have positive effect as it would “definitely” encourage smokers to get supply from another source other than the coffee shops, cafes and mini marts.
Michael Tiong
“In fact, it will bring adverse effect as smokers will source or switch to smuggled cigarettes at a cheaper price especially self-made brands.
“By increasing the price, it will create an extra burden on their shoulders. When smokers have limited budget, they will try all sorts of ways to get the supply at an affordable price. This will create an opportunity for traders to fulfil such need from such market demand,” he argued.
“Smuggled and unregistered brands might contain even more harmful ingredients than the established brands that are sold in the open market. So the move to increase the price is not advisable.”
Tiong argued that it will be more effective to ban smoking in public areas and set a designated smoking area, citing Singapore as a good example.
“Smokers who smoke at non-smoking areas will be fined S$100 only and so far it is very effective as their citizens help the government to enforce it. This restriction on public smoking will also discourage new smokers from cultivating smoking habit and puffing away at public areas,” he said.
“And making it harder to smoke in public will discourage smokers to smoke.”
Hence, Covas welcomes the move by Ministry of Health to ban smoking in public areas.
Tiong said this will impact consumers who are regular smokers who depend on cigarette to relax, release work pressure, as a source of pleasure and self-entertainment.
“With the current slowing down of economy and unemployment rate, consumers who are smokers have already tightened their purchase on cigarette,” he added.
On whether the cheaper cigarette is of standard quality or inferior, Tiong said it has not been established.
“We have to see the justification on why the increase of price is being proposed. Is it because there are escalating deaths resulting from smoking that lead to such a move? If it is true that many deaths result from smoking, then where are the statistics from a reliable source to justify such a move? Or are there too many complaints from the non-smokers for such a move? Where is the official statistics? Or is it because the current government is in need of more revenue and thus resort to such a move by imposing taxes, new charges or new law at the expense of our beloved Malaysian smokers?” Tiong wondered.
He agreed that, generally, it is a good move to ban smoking in public as it serves to protect non-smokers.
“On the price increase, however, it has to be done progressively, systematically. Base it on humanitarian ground and due diligence study as some smokers depend heavily on cigarette to survive,” he suggested.
On the age limit to purchase liquor, Tiong is of the opinion that the current law prohibiting those 18 years old and below from purchasing liquor is sufficient.