Smoke-free legislation in Malaysia: a comprehensive review

Introduction: As a party to the World Health Organization - Framework of Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), Malaysia has introduced steps in the control of tobacco use in public places through its smoke- free legislation (SFL). Objective: The purpose of this review is to briefly summarise the...

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Main Authors: Zainol Abidin, Najihah, Zulkifli, Aziemah, Zainal Abidin, Emilia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Environmental and Occupational Health Society 2016
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53836/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53836/1/Smoke-free%20legislation%20in%20Malaysia.pdf
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author Zainol Abidin, Najihah
Zulkifli, Aziemah
Zainal Abidin, Emilia
author_facet Zainol Abidin, Najihah
Zulkifli, Aziemah
Zainal Abidin, Emilia
author_sort Zainol Abidin, Najihah
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Introduction: As a party to the World Health Organization - Framework of Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), Malaysia has introduced steps in the control of tobacco use in public places through its smoke- free legislation (SFL). Objective: The purpose of this review is to briefly summarise the implementation of SFL in Malaysia, the efforts from every angle of the community and to address the gaps and new challenges faced in ensuring the effectiveness of this well-constructed legislation. Results: Well-structured and positive commitments in protecting the public from the health hazards of smoking and second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure have been shown by the Malaysian government. However, the level of compliance is an area of concern. Since e-cigarettes have been introduced to the market, it brings along new challenges in the implementation of the current SFL. Thus, treating e-cigarettes in the same manner with conventional cigarettes will help to maintain the strength of the current SFL and allowing the authority to focus on the enforcement for the successfulness of the implementation. Conclusions: Malaysia has taken a proactive action in protecting its people from the adverse effects from tobacco. The compliance level to SFL implementation thus far was unable to show its positive effects in protecting the health of the public. Empowering the local authority in its ability to perform enforcement is suggested to help improve the effectiveness of the existing SFL.
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spelling upm-538362018-02-12T07:05:30Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53836/ Smoke-free legislation in Malaysia: a comprehensive review Zainol Abidin, Najihah Zulkifli, Aziemah Zainal Abidin, Emilia Introduction: As a party to the World Health Organization - Framework of Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), Malaysia has introduced steps in the control of tobacco use in public places through its smoke- free legislation (SFL). Objective: The purpose of this review is to briefly summarise the implementation of SFL in Malaysia, the efforts from every angle of the community and to address the gaps and new challenges faced in ensuring the effectiveness of this well-constructed legislation. Results: Well-structured and positive commitments in protecting the public from the health hazards of smoking and second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure have been shown by the Malaysian government. However, the level of compliance is an area of concern. Since e-cigarettes have been introduced to the market, it brings along new challenges in the implementation of the current SFL. Thus, treating e-cigarettes in the same manner with conventional cigarettes will help to maintain the strength of the current SFL and allowing the authority to focus on the enforcement for the successfulness of the implementation. Conclusions: Malaysia has taken a proactive action in protecting its people from the adverse effects from tobacco. The compliance level to SFL implementation thus far was unable to show its positive effects in protecting the health of the public. Empowering the local authority in its ability to perform enforcement is suggested to help improve the effectiveness of the existing SFL. Environmental and Occupational Health Society 2016 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53836/1/Smoke-free%20legislation%20in%20Malaysia.pdf Zainol Abidin, Najihah and Zulkifli, Aziemah and Zainal Abidin, Emilia (2016) Smoke-free legislation in Malaysia: a comprehensive review. Asia Pacific Environmental and Occupational Health Journal, 2. pp. 58-66. ISSN 2462-2214 http://apeohjournal.org/index.php/v/article/view/19
spellingShingle Zainol Abidin, Najihah
Zulkifli, Aziemah
Zainal Abidin, Emilia
Smoke-free legislation in Malaysia: a comprehensive review
title Smoke-free legislation in Malaysia: a comprehensive review
title_full Smoke-free legislation in Malaysia: a comprehensive review
title_fullStr Smoke-free legislation in Malaysia: a comprehensive review
title_full_unstemmed Smoke-free legislation in Malaysia: a comprehensive review
title_short Smoke-free legislation in Malaysia: a comprehensive review
title_sort smoke-free legislation in malaysia: a comprehensive review
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53836/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53836/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/53836/1/Smoke-free%20legislation%20in%20Malaysia.pdf