A survey conducted on 2011 stated that 25 percent or nearly 4.

4 million of Malaysian
engaged in smoking habit (Ministry of Health, 2011). Cigarette, cigar, pipes and shisha
are famous type of smoke tobacco among smoker in Malaysia. In Malaysia there are
18,000 people dead cause by smoke related disease (Shuhada, 2015). Smoking habit
can lead to harmful diseases such as erectile dysfunction, mouth cancer, lung cancer,
prenatal birth and stroke. Every year, people spent thousands of Ringgit to purchase
cigarette. Now days, most people aware of the harmful effect of smoking and they tried
to quit. However, the chemical ingredient in smoking such as nicotine made hard for
them to quit. The harmful and dangerous effect of smoking should create an awareness
of smoking habit.

Thus a total plan which includes individual, government and

community should be created in order to reduce tobacco usage and to prevent new
smoker among Malaysian.
Government had come with multiple of strategies to reduce smoking habit in
Malaysia. Ministry of Health had launch a campaign known as Tak Nak enhance
awareness about smoking in 2004 (Hanum, Norfaezah, & Rosna, 2014). This campaign
focus on few aspect which is to educate, help those want to quit, provide information
and technique to quit smoking, and to ensure no new smoker especially among student.
In past few years, government comes up with idea to reduce smoking habit using tax.
According to World Bank, the most excellent and strategy to control tobacco usage
among new generation such as child, teenager and low income is thru implementation
of tobacco taxes (Bahagian Kawalan Penyakit, 2008). Malaysia show significant
increase of cigarette price from 2008 till 2014. The data showed 66.67 percent increase
of cigarette price in past 7 years. Now, smoker uses unregister cigarette as an
alternative. The price of a pack is almost 40 percent cheaper than registered cigarette.
On the other hand, most of it is artificial and not original which contain mysterious
chemical mix. Thus, government especially Malaysias Royal Custom should take more
comprehensive steps to stop import of illegal cigarette.
Even if government came with lots of strategies in reduce smoking and tobacco
usage among Malaysian, we should to our part as an individual as well. Many people
failed to quit smoking due to withdrawal effect. Anxiety, nicotine craving, depression and

weight gain are some of the effect. However this issues can be solve by educate and
self restrain. According to an article entitle Manage Nicotine Withdrawal by having a
healthy diet, exercise, utilize technology, ask for support and celebrate small victory can
help us to cope with withdrawal (Brenda, 2012). Looking for support from family, friend
or support group is important because quitting is a long and hard process. By having
someone to share your journey it will help to ease and face any obstacle. Remember,
withdrawal is temporary and a sign for your recovery. By having it, you will know you are
one step toward tobacco free.
People in community should know about the danger of secondhand smoker.
Although some people believe as a non smoker they have a good health. However, they
still in danger of chemical fumes release by cigarette. People should know their right to
have a good and clean air. If a smoker smoke in front of you, you can ask them politely
to turn off their cigarette or go to other places. In Tak Nak Campaign, Malaysian was
thought with a gesture to smoker. A simple gesture by put a finger in front of mouth and
waive it as sign of saying no to smoking. Community should take action by reporting if
they know any retailer sell illegal cigarette or sell it to underage.
In the nut shell, smoking can cause negative impact such as wasting money and give
harm to health among Malaysian. Together, Individual, community and government
should work in helping smoker to quit and prevent youngster to involve in smoking.

References
Bahagian Kawalan Penyakit. (2008). Keperluan Menetapkan Harga Minima bagi
Rokok (HMR) yang Dijual di Malaysia. Putrajaya: Ministry of Health.
Brenda, R. (2012, March 1). Manage Nicotine Withdrawal. Retrieved March 15, 2015,
from Healthline: http://www.healthline.com/health/copd/nicotine-withdrawal
Hanum, H., Norfaezah, Y., & Rosna, A. H. (2014). Faktor Rintangan Ke Atas Kempen
Tak Nak Merokok. Jurnal Komunikasi , 1 (30), 75-95.
Ministry of Health. (2011). National Health And Morbidity Survey 2011 Fact Sheet.
Putrajaya: MoH.
Shuhada, M. (2015, Mac 11). MyMetro. Retrieved Mac 14, 2015, from MyMetro:
http://www.hmetro.com.my/node/36116