The Health Ministry remains steadfast in its mission to realise a "Malaysia Bebas Rokok" (Tobacco Free Malaysia) by 2040.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who officiated the National Tobacco Control Conference in Cyberjaya on Saturday (May 31), said the vision is achievable through shared commitment and standing firm on policies rooted in public good.
00:00Today, we are not only confronting humble products, we are confronting a billion-dollar industry that has rebranded addiction-biased devices, sweet flavors, seductive marketing, aimed squarely at our promising.
00:30Ladies and gentlemen, the good news is we have made progress, yes. According to the National Health Mobility Survey, smoking prevalence among adults has declined marginally from 2019 to 22.4% to in 2023, 19.8%. Marginally low, but still a decline.
00:54But as we push, one epidemic, one epidemic back, another rises in its place.
01:04The rain usage has unfortunately crept up from 4.9 cents to 5.1 cents, especially among adults.
01:13The NHMS 2022 revealed something even more alarming. 60,000 things are current drug users.
01:22And more than 100,000 have experimented with illegal substances like Kratom and Amphetamine.
01:30We are also taking this fight to where it matters most, our school.
01:37Through program Kesihatan Oro Tanpa Amalan Merokokota, a new training program, new training for school counselors, we are building resilience in our young people before addiction can take root.
01:54And of course, we are doing this alone.
01:59Our strength lies in strategic partnership with civil society and corporate allies in the National Poison Center at USM.
02:06Who's silly, bebas roko, continues to educate and empower, God willing, the smoker, or rather smoker-free generation.
02:21Ladies and gentlemen, today we also welcome Pak Lama.
02:27A total of 100 Pak Lama mascots will be placed across the country to drive public awareness, support communities' outreach, and connect this lung health campaign to larger causes like them, like Malaysian Tiger Conservation and Eco Tourism.
02:49As we look ahead, the mission of health remains steadfast in this mission to realize Malaysia per bus roko by 2040.
03:0050 years after, are we able to die?
03:05It's a bold mantra, a bold vision, but we are only left for 50 years.
03:15That mission can only be achieved through shared commitments and standing firm on policies rooted in public.
