KENAF AND NATIONAL TOBACCO AUTHORITY BILL NOT AIMED AT MARGINALISING TOBACCO INDUSTRY

Source from:  Bernama - Tuesday, August 19KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) 08/19/2008

Enactment of the Kenaf and National Tobacco Authority Bill 2008 will not marginalise the tobacco industry, said Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui. He said it was aimed at creating a more effective act and replacing the National Tobacco Authority Act 1973. "We are not planning to abolish the tobacco industry as this will cause the tobacco growers in Kelantan to lose their income. "It is aimed at regulating the tobacco industry so that the cigarette manufacturers will adopt the best health methods," he said when winding up debate on the bill in the Dewan Rakyat here today. Chin denied that the new act would encourage more Malaysians to take up smoking. "We want an efficient industry and not one that use all means of producing cigarettes as the people will end up buying sub-standard cigarettes," he said. The session continues tomorrow. Enditem