Anti-Tobacco Bill to be tabled in Parliament

PETALING JAYA: Lawmakers will be tabling the Anti-Tobacco Bill in the upcoming Parliament seating in their effort to reduce the overwhelming number of cancer cases reported in the country.
Klang MP Charles Santiago said it is important for the bill to be enacted as it will greatly reduce the overwhelming numbers of cancer cases.
"According to some figures I have obtained, the number of Malaysians being diagnosed with cancer is at an alarming trend as some academicians in the private sector have projected that in every four Malaysians there will be one who will be diagnosed with cancer.
"Everyone needs to put in extra effort if we want to reduce the number of cases reported," Santiago said after having a discussion with the president-elect of the Union for International of Cancer Control, Princess Dina Mirad of Jordan, Selangor health exco Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, National Cancer Society Malaysia president Dr Saunthari Somadundaran and Subang MP Wong Chen today.
According to Santiago, their meeting was on the state of cancer in Malaysia and worldwide as well as the international conference on cancer that will be taking place in October.
On the Anti-Tobacco Bill, Saunthari said the bill focuses on the different aspects of tobacco such as limiting the use of tobacco whether it is through taxes or who is allowed to sell it, enforcement action, illegal trade and such.
"Once the bill is passed and enacted, it will give the government greater authority in implementing policies with regards to tobacco control," Saunthari said.
Princess Dina said the government needs to be taught that there is more money in banning tobacco than in allowing tobacco corporations to continue.
"Studies have shown that low and middle income countries that invest in anti-tobacco activities are able to save billions in treatment costs. In fact, many Western countries have already made progress on the matter while countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East like us are still too afraid to move away from tobacco," she said.