ANTI - tobacco advocate Datuk K. Koris Atan has urged the Federal Government to expedite the conversion of the tobacco crop to the commercial - driven kenaf plant as it can help lower the rate of smokers in the country.
If there is no supply, surely the process to manufacture cigarettes would dwindle, said Koris, adding that smokers should just go cold turkey if they comprehend the perils of smoking, especially since supply is now being deliberately decreased.
Kenaf has been identified as a plant most suitable to replace tobacco since it thrives in a similar hot and dry climate, prevailing in mostly northern part of the peninsular.
As the government is actively pushing for kenaf to be an alternative to tobacco for farmers and entrepreneurs in view of the harm smoking generates, it is imperative that more attention be accorded to cultivating the kenaf plant, Koris said.
"The public should spend time on productive habits instead of puffing away. They may actually help grow kenaf as a hobby since it can be easily grown."
Koris said that kenaf when it flowers in farms, is also a beholding sight for nature lovers.
Koris, who is also the vice - president of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca), said that it is scientifically proven that smoking is dangerous.
"It can harm nearly every organ in your body and increase your risk of certain health conditions like glaucoma, cancer, and lung disease. It can also increase inflammation throughout your body and negatively affect your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection," stressed Koris.
Quitting can reverse many of these effects on your body as it is proven, said Koris.
The National Health and Morbidity Survey 2015 report on smoking among Malaysian adults indicated that approximately 22.8% of adults aged 15 and above were current smokers, with a higher prevalence among males (43.0%) compared to females (1.4%).
Of the current smokers, 20.5% were daily smokers, with 38.8% of men and 1.1% of women being daily smokers.
About one tenth of the Malaysian population aged 15 years and above used smokeless (vaping) cigarette (20.8% of men and 0.8% of women).
The majority of smokers in Malaysia smoked manufactured cigarettes, while hand-rolled cigarettes were popular among older smokers (aged 65+) and smokers from rural areas.
The Health Ministry has adopted an anti - smoking policy and measures to reduce the prevalence of smoking among the population from 22% to 15% by 2025.
Koris was offering comment after learning that the take up rate for kenaf is apparently below expectations since it was first introduced as a commercial crop in 1998.
National Kenaf and Tobacco Board (LKTN) chairman Datuk Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah sees a strong potential in kenaf cultivation, citing that it is simply lack the necessary attention since it was only introduced in the early 2000s.
Of course, the board wants to see a higher cultivation rate but it believes that through patience and constant awareness campaigns, there would be a greater buy in on kenaf as a commercial crop in the country, said Wan Rahim.
In 2005, the Malaysian government started a restructuring plan to phase out the tobacco farming sector due to its public health risks, in line with its commitments under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 17.
Kenaf is easy to grow with potential earnings of RM5,000 per hectare per season.
Wan Abdul Rahim said that kenaf can also be grown as a supplement to major plantations and farming such as rubber, oil palm and padi.
“It has gained global attention as a cost-effective plant,” Wan Rahim added.
In Malaysia, downstream products from its stems and seeds, can produce various products, including fiber, paper, textiles, biocomposites, animal feed, and biofuel, he added. - March 29, 2025
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