Monday August 13, 2007
Health Ministry to set minimum price for cigarettes soon
BUTTERWORTH: The Health Ministry has had enough of the price war among cigarette companies and plans to set the minimum price soon.
Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Lee Kah Choon said it could be very soon.
“When we feel it is time, we will announce it and enforce the new price,” he said.
Lee said the ministry was unhappy the price war has hampered the anti-smoking campaign.
“As far as we are concerned, the cigarette companies can withdraw their price war now and have another price war later but we are not going to play cat and mouse with them.
“The price war frustrates the government’s effort to discourage smoking among Malaysians and we are going to take measures to overcome the problem,” he said after launching the state-level Jom Tak Nak Merokok programme at Mak Mandin here yesterday.
The price war, which started in April, has made cigarettes cheaper despite the annual increase in duty, as manufacturers were cutting prices and offering attractive packaging to lure the young.
Lee hinted that duty on tobacco would be increased in the coming Budget. He said although each pack of cigarettes had been slapped with taxes of at least RM3.60, some manufacturers could still sell a pack for about RM4.
“This not what we want. This is an unhealthy way of promoting their products “ he stressed.
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