KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 18): Increasing tobacco excise duties is among the most effective measures to curb the smoking habit, alongside comprehensive enforcement to ensure the "Endgame 2045" goal of reducing the use of smoking products can be achieved, says the Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control (MCTC). Its president Prof Dr Murallitharan Munisamy said tax increases were among the most effective public health policy instruments to reduce smoking, particularly among the youth and low-income groups who were more price-sensitive. MCTC also added that taxes on tobacco products had not been raised since 2015, and therefore, a review of the fiscal policy was urgently required to achieve the “smoking product endgame” target by 2045. In this regard, MCTC urged the government to ratify the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products to strengthen licensing mechanisms, track-and-trace systems, and cross-border cooperation in accordance with Article 15 of the FCTC. “Without a solid enforcement foundation, the positive impact of tax increases would be eroded by the illicit market,” he said.

Source: The Edge Markets February 18, 2026 11:49 UTC