Kiddie pack cigs mulled

Govt to study if 10-stick packets can fight counterfeit cigarettes

A STUDY is being made to look into whether the 10-stick kiddie pack cigarettes should be re-reintroduced to tackle the scourge of contraband cigarettes in Malaysia, says Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Othman Aziz.

He said the Government is still considering the proposal on the kiddie pack, while it is studying the impact of its implementation to ensure that it goes in line with Malaysia’s commitment as a signatory to the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

“This is after taking into account Malaysia’s decision to stop the production of smallsized cigarette packets that is in line with the country’s commitment under the WHO FCTC,” he added.

Othman was responding to Datuk Seri Dr Muhammad Leo Michael Toyad Abdullah (BN-Mukah), who asked the Government’s stand on the suggestion to reintroduce kiddie pack cigarettes to overcome the proliferation of contraband cigarettes.

To overcome the problem of contraband cigarettes, Othman said the Government had formed the Cabinet Committee on a Healthy Living Environment, in which one of its policies was to increase enforcement on the sale and distribution of contraband cigarettes.

He added enforcement action was being taken by the Customs Department, the police, and the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) to tackle the sale of contraband cigarettes.

Othman said from a period of five years from 2014 to January this year, the authorities had seized RM290.4mil worth of contraband cigarettes, with unpaid duties of RM2.2bil.