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Transcript/ScriptSLUG: MALAYSIA NO SMOKING
HEADLINE: Malaysian Proposal to Phase Out Smoking Sparks Controversy
TEASER: Concerns over corruption cloud plans by the health ministry
PUBLISHED AT: Monday, 03/29/2022 at 11:30am
BYLINE: Dave Grunebaum
DATELINE: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
VIDEOGRAPHER: Dave Grunebaum
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: wpm, Salem Solomon
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO X
TRT: 2:35
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TVPKG/RADIO
EDITOR NOTES: There is an accompanying web article and photos that go with the story. Radio track included. For questions and final approval, email Dave Grunebaum at: dgrune@hotmail.com ))
((INTRO))
[[Malaysia’s health ministry is proposing a major initiative to prevent young people from smoking. It’s a bold plan but critics say it has flaws. Dave Grunebaum has the story.]]
((NARRATOR)) Across Malaysia, it’s easy to find people lighting up. Government statistics show 1-in-5 Malaysians 15 years of age and older smoke tobacco including 40% of men.
[[Radio Track: Azrul Mohd Khalib [Mohd is pronounced: Mohammed] is the CEO and founder of the Galen Center for Health and Social Policy based in Kuala Lumpur.]]
((Azrul Mohd Khalib, Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy))
“This is a major problem because a lot of people are losing their lives due to smoke-related lung cancer.”
((NARRATOR))
The country’s health ministry is now pushing to permanently ban the sale of all tobacco and smoking products to anyone born after the year 2005. This means young people will never be able to legally buy cigarettes, cigars, or vape in Malaysia. It’s a proposal that is sparking mixed reactions.
((Azrul Mohd Khalib, Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy))
“A great idea and a good step in the right direction but its success or failure depends on how much support it is able to get from both the government and society at large.”
[[Radio Track: Ni’ Aliah Amira is a 21-year-old university student who vapes regularly.]]
((Ni’ Aliah Amira, Vaper))
“People are going to find all those black holes, all those little holes for them to buy cigarettes because, to be honest, they can’t stop anyone from smoking.”
((NARRATOR))
Carmelo Ferlito, CEO of the libertarian think tank Center for Market Education, says if the proposal becomes law, it will do more harm than good.
((Carmelo Ferlito, Center for Market Education))
“It’s not going to reduce consumption. It’s only going to increase the illegal consumption of cigarettes, which in Malaysia is already extremely high.”
((NARRATOR))
It’s widely known across Malaysia that there’s a thriving black market for tobacco products. A study conducted in 2020 by the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers concluded that more than 60% of cigarettes consumed in the nation were from the black market.
In several convenience stores, employees, upon request, brought out illegally imported cigarettes from under the counter. These products often sell for less than half the price of legal ones.
[[Radio Track: Carmelo Ferlito sees similarities with the U.S. attempt to prohibit alcohol a century ago.]]
((Carmelo Ferlito, Center for Market Education))
“Further prohibiting cigarettes will end up like the American prohibition for alcohol during the 1920s, so we will have our very own Al Capone for tobacco smuggling.”
[[Radio Track: Azrul Mohd Kalib of the Galen Centre for Health and Social believes the black market can be beaten.]]
((Azrul Mohd Khalib, Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy))
“The problem lies in enforcement and one of the solutions that we can actually put forward is to address the corruption and the presence of organized crime.”
((NARRATOR))
Experts warn the success of a bold plan to cut down on smoking depends not only on legislation and education but strong steps to tackle the corruption that’s helped create the country’s massive black market.
((Dave Grunebaum, For VOA News, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
Embargo DateMarch 30, 2022 19:48 EDT
BylineDave Grunebaum, For VOA News, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
