SHAH ALAM, Sept 28 — The Malaysian Women’s Action for Tobacco Control and Health (MyWATCH) has urged the government to draft and enforce a national ethics code for civil servants who deal with tobacco industry players.
Its president Roslizawati Md Ali said this is important to prevent increasingly prevalent interference from tobacco companies and their proxies in national public health policymaking.
“The tobacco industry is cunning. It dresses interference as collaboration, influence as invitation, and delay as prudence. If we allow that disguise to stand unchallenged, our public health vision will be undermined from within.
“This ethics code must be clear — bans on gifts, sponsorships, or contributions from tobacco and vape companies, obligations to publicly post meeting minutes, whistleblower protection, and sanctions for violations,” she said in a statement after the launch of its Malaysia Tobacco Industry Interference Index (MTIII) 2025 in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
In the MTIII-2025, Malaysia scored a 77 on the industry interference index, up from 66 in 2021 and 76 in 2023. The higher score shows a worrying increase in the tobacco industry’s influence.
Among the issues identified was the “revolving door” practice where former government officials are appointed as consultants to tobacco companies, weaknesses in surveillance mechanisms, and the use of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes as a ploy to improve their social legitimacy.
Roslizawati said that without immediate action, the integrity of policies on tobacco control will continue to weaken and taint Malaysia’s credibility on the global stage.
“MyWATCH wants all interactions with (tobacco) industry players to be recorded, reported in a timely manner, and limited only to regulatory oversight, not policy development.
“Government agencies also cannot receive funds or sponsorships from the industry, and former civil servants should be banned from joining tobacco or vape companies within certain cooling-off periods,” she said.
She also urged that civil society be given ample support with funds for open surveillance, media investigations, and safe channels to report industry interference.
“The time is now. Let us rise together, reclaim governance from interference, and deliver a healthier future for our children and our nation,” Roslizawati said.
A Health Ministry (MOH) student revealed concerning figures on smoking among Malaysians, especially vaping, that rose from 4.9 per cent in 2019 to 5.8 per cent in 2023.
Previously, Health Ministry Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad reportedly said the government would ban vape sales to curb misuse.
He announced that it would be done in stages, starting with a ban on open systems that will expand to cover all kinds of vape products.
Meanwhile, the Selangor government has ordered that all traders take down advertisements and promotions on e-cigarette and vape products by year end.
State executive councillor for local government and tourism Dato’ Ng Suee Lim said local authorities have been ordered to issue notices to traders to voluntarily take down such advertising material.
“We have directed local authorities to oversee this matter. If, at year end, traders are still resistant, stricter action will be taken. Soon, we will also hold discussions with all local authorities,” Ng said.
