Malaysia - if you smoke you lose..

October 6, 2010 - ALOR SETAR (is the state capital of Kedah, Malaysia): Kedah Health Department employees who smoke will not be eligible for the annual excellence performance awards even if they do well in their work.

Director Dr Marzukhi Md Isa said all the 13,000 department personnel had been informed ab

“Thirty percent or 3,900 of our 13,000 department personnel are smokers. As staff representing a health department, they should act as role models. Thus, I hope that they will quit smoking,” he told newsmen after attending the state-level World Heart Day celebration here yesterday.celebration here yesterday. He said that more than 16,000 people received treatment for heart problems in the state and the smoking habit was cited as one of the causes of the illness.

Dr Marzukhi said the department was conducting campaigns to encourage its personnel to quit smoking, including giving them acknowledgement certificates for their effort.
“This is the first time we are not selecting smokers for the awards and it will continue in the future,” he said.

In another matter: Malaysia's conservative Islamic party will field only a candidate who does not smoke in an upcoming by-election, reports, as the party seeks to boost its Islamic image. The Pan-Malaysia Islamic Party (PAS), which is a part of the opposition alliance, said the candidate it will pick for the poll in northern Kelantan state must display good Islamic character and the person must be a non-smoker. (Malaysia Islamic party to pick 'non-smoking candidate', AFP, 10/3/2010)

Reference: Health Dept snuffs out excellence awards for smokers by EMBUN MAJID, the Star, 10/4/2010,

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Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government de­­partments and agencies..;
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Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
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Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...Peninsular Malaysia - one of three cigarette packs is either contraband or fake..;
Komtar, Penang, Malaysia smoking ban strictly enforced..;
Malaysia student forced to smoke 40 cigarettes in two hours..
Malaysia - PSD and Cuepacs are at odds over the no-smoking rule at government de­­partments and agencies..;
Malaysia: Are tobacco control measures working? - WHO thinks so...;
Malaysia - slowdown in cigarette consumption..;
Malaysia - January 1, 2009 pictorial cigarette warnings..;
Malaysia to hike cigarette prices..;
Malaysia - 25% of all cigarettes sales are illegal...