Public Health poll opposes reintroduction of smaller cigarette packs

PETALING JAYA: The majority of respondents to a poll by Public Health Malaysia are against a proposal for the government to reintroduce the 10-stick cigarette pack, China Press reported today.
Of the 2,340 respondents to the poll carried out on Public Health Malaysia's Facebook page, 1,400 or 59.8% did not agree with the proposal put forth by four organisations, who represent a total of 40,000 retailers.
According to Public Health Malaysia, only 550 respondents or 23.5% supported the reintroduction of cigarette packs of fewer than 20 sticks.
"The rest of the votes were deemed void as the respondents clicked on the wrong emoji," Public Health Malaysia said.
The poll was conducted from 10pm to midnight on Tuesday through a live video slot posted on their Facebook page.
On Monday, the Malaysia-Singapore Coffeeshop Proprietors General Association, the Malaysia Sundry Goods Merchants Federation, the Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Association and the Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association signed a memorandum in Kuala Lumpur calling on the government to re-introduce the 10-stick pack in order to fight the illicit cigarette trade.
At present, cigarettes are sold only in 20-stick packs following the government's decision to ban the sales of seven-stick and 10-stick packs in 2004 and the 14-stick pack in 2010.
Following its poll, Public Health Malaysia said on its Facebook page that the government should "reject kiddie (10-stick) pack, halt cigarette companies for the sake of children and adolescents' future".
The same day, the Malaysian Medical Association issued a statement to say "Tak Nak" to the reintroduction of smaller packs of cigarettes.