OPEN LETTER OF SUPPORT TO MINISTRY OF HEALTH MALAYSIA' RECENT ANNOUNCEMENT TO GAZETTE ALFRESCO RESTAURANTS AS NO-SMOKING ZONES.

The following open letter has been sent to the media this morning. We would appreciate your assistance in ensuring that the letter/its contents are also highlighted in your organisation's website or social media pages. Many thanks for your support in this matter.

Open letter re gazetting alfresco restaurants as no-smoking zones

The following letter is signed by 30 Malaysian medical organisations. We represent the majority of the medical fraternity in Malaysia.

We are writing to express our support for the Ministry of Health's recent announcement by the Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye that the Ministry intends to gazette alfresco restaurants as no-smoking zones under the Control of Tobacco Products (Amendment) Regulations 2017.

Dr Lee was quoted as saying "The gazettement of the new smoke-free zones under the Control of Tobacco Product Act is to protect the public, especially non-smokers, from the dangers of secondhand smoke”.

We could not agree more with this statement.

One in two smokers will die from the use of tobacco. While that is a tragedy on its own, it is an even greater travesty that many non-smokers suffer numerous ailments as a result of secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals, of which many cause cancer. Studies have shown that it causes premature heart disease and lung cancer amongst non-smokers and even leads to strokes.

The effects are particularly felt by women and children, who are often at the mercy of smokers and are unable to voice out their concerns. For example, secondhand smoke leads to more frequent and severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections and ear infections. It also increases the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, birth defects and sudden infant death syndrome.

It is also essential to note that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

With these factors in mind, many governments across the world have taken measures to protect their citizens from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. For example, a policy making it illegal to smoke in work places in England came into force on 1 July 2007 as a consequence of the Health Act 2006.

An analysis of studies found that admissions for heart attacks fell by 42 per cent among men and 43 per cent among women in the five years since the ban was introduced in 2007. Rates of hospitalisations for asthma were also reduced. In the United States, a review found a 14 per cent reduction in strokes in counties which introduced a ban, compared with those which did not.

These numbers translate to real lives that are saved from the physical, financial and emotional burdens of disease. Although some will undoubtedly voice concerns regarding the negative economic impact on local restaurants, it is worth noting that even here the evidence suggest otherwise - in England, many eateries have thrived since the smoking ban as they changed their focus on more high-quality food and trying to attract families - including those with young children - who would previously have avoided smoky atmospheres.

Furthermore, the government will be fulfilling their obligation to protect public health & make public places 100% smoke-free, as detailed in the World Health Organisation's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which Malaysia signed and ratified.

We acknowledge and congratulate the new government’s emphasis on preventive medicine and addressing the scourge of non-communicable diseases at their infancy. We look forward to both Dr Lee and our Health Minister, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, leading the way in ensuring that the gazettement is made official.

There is no greater modifiable risk factor than tobacco, and by implementing measures to reduce the impact of secondhand smoking, the government will go a long way in reducing the nation’s healthcare costs whilst increasing the well-being of the rakyat.

Signed,

Academy of Medicine of Malaysia

Academy of Medicine of Malaysia - College of Surgeons

Academy of Medicine of Malaysia - College of Physicians

Addiction Medicine Association of Malaysia

Asthma Malaysia

Family Medicine Specialists Association of Malaysia

Federation of Private Medical Practitioners’ Associations Malaysia Islamic Medical Association of Malaysia

Lung Foundation of Malaysia

Malaysian Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology Malaysian Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control

Malaysian Medical Association

Malaysian Medics International

Malaysian Oncological Society

Malaysian Paediatric Association

Malaysian Psychiatric Association

Malaysian Society of Geriatric Medicine

Malaysian Thoracic Society

Medical Mythbusters Malaysia

Medical Practitioners Coalition Association Of Malaysia Medical Tweet Malaysia

National Cancer Society of Malaysia

National Heart Association of Malaysia

Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society of Malaysia Perinatal Society of Malaysia

Persatuan Kesihatan IKRAM Malaysia

Persatuan Pakar Perubatan Kesihatan Awam Malaysia Pertubuhan Doktor-doktor Islam Malaysia

Vascular Society of Malaysia