Tobacco smoking remains the single most identifiable and preventable cause of lung cancer.
Tobacco control including restricting the sale of conventional cigarettes and related products to minors is an obvious and clear opportunity for policy action but requires courage and political will.
The Lung Cancer Network Malaysia (LCNM) is encouraged by the recent judgment of the learned High Court which declared a controversial 2023 government decision to exempt nicotine liquids and gels from the Poisons Act 1952, unlawful and irrational.
On World No Tobacco Day, LCNM calls on the government of Malaysia to relist liquid nicotine, a highly addictive product, under the Poisons List.
Additionally, given the government’s laudable Lung Health Initiative, we request the Health Ministry to meaningfully revisit a generational end game (GEG) tobacco ban to protect future generations of Malaysians from the scourge of tobacco-related diseases including lung cancer.
Whilst advances in tobacco control have driven real declines in smoking rates and lung cancer deaths, such gains remain fragile due to new and emerging nicotine products and disingenuous marketing that targets vulnerable youth.
Without appropriate legislation and robust enforcement, future generations will be unwittingly addicted and suffer.
For all the truly remarkable recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer, effective tobacco control remains a powerful strategy.
This press statement was issued by LCNM’s executive council.
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