Tobacco Farmers Not Hit By Higher Excise Duties - LTN

Source from:  PASIR PUTEH, (Bernama) 09/14/2004

Higher excise duties on cigarettes is not expected to affect livelihood of some 90,000 tobacco farmers nationwide, said National Tobacco Board (LTN) Chairman Mohd Zain Ismail. He said any effects would be temporary and assured the farmers that the local tobacco industry would continue to grow. "LTN will continue with its efforts to develop the industry," Mohd Zain said when contacted here Monday. On Friday when tabling the 2005 Budget, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said excise duties on cigarettes would be raised from RM58 to RM81 for every 1,000 sticks. Mohd Zain said tobacco farmers nationwide earned a total of RM160 million last year, the highest in 13 years. "This is meaningful to them as they have been hard hit and suffered massive losses due to heavy rain and floods in the past few years," he said. Enditem