Tobacco.org

• National Tobacco Control Panel To Create Smoke-Free Society 

Brunei has set up a National Committee on Tobacco Control to discuss plans and strategies to reduce the prevalence of smoking in the country and create a smoke-free generation in the long-term.

The committee, which held its first meeting yesterday, was formed to examine and provide direction, advice and guidance on the National Tobacco Control Programme, in line with the policies suggested by the World Health Organisation, including monitoring use of tobacco products and preventive policies, protecting nonsmokers from tobacco smoke, providing warnings on the dangers of tobacco consumption and enforcing warnings on advertising and promotion of tobacco products.

It is also tasked with the responsibility of implementing the 2005 Tobacco Order and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, in addition to increasing coordination with various sectors involved in the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Programme.

The committee will also ensure and enforce the implementation of the programme aimed at preventing and controlling the use of tobacco and reduce smoking rate, by preventing initial usage of tobacco, particularly among youths and women while also motivating the public to stop their usage of tobacco products.

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• Will Fasting Help Cut Down Or Kick Smoking Habit?  

Ramadhan serves as the most appropriate opportunity for Muslims to practice self-control in several aspects of life, and some members of the public had opted to take it a step further and quit from certain bad habits.

"I've been meaning to stop smoking for a long time, but with the Tobacco Order in force, it's a good time as any other to slowly start quitting," said a 27-year-old man, who has been smoking for almost nine years.

He added that he was not going to quit the bad habit, however the month gave him the opportunity to cut down on smoking while observing the month of Ramadhan. . . .

Imams in their Friday sermons on February 15 called on Bruneians to be proactive and not wait for something to happen before finally realising and seeing the error of their ways.

The imams pointed out that smoking is comparable to suicide as the habit does not kill a person immediately, but the poisons in cigarettes cause gradual decay and can ultimately cause death.

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• Imams Decry Smoking  

An increasing number of areas are now prohibited for smokers.

This would emphasise the dangers of puffing especially to passive smokers, religious leaders revealed in their Friday sermon yesterday.

Imams said that the nation has widened areas prohibited for smoking. . . .

"We must obey the constructive advice that calls us to refrain from smoking. It's better to be safe than sorry. We should be able to think and differentiate the good from the bad. We should respect others who use the same facility and should not think selfishly only about one's wishes."

Imams added, "There are many matters that can threaten one's life, one of which is cigarette smoking. The health experts too have supported this theory through research.

"Efforts to awaken the public on its dangers have been repeatedly highlighted in the media and Friday sermons, but have sadly fallen on deaf ears," they said.

Cigarette smoking can still be seen everywhere, be it at prohibited places . . .

Ummah should be grateful for such well being and must not be destroyed. Cigarette smoking may not kill one instantly, but the poison could risk one's life. Hence, cigarette smoking resembles a suicide attempt," the religious leaders said.

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• Tobacco Order Still Flouted Due To Enforcement Delay  

According to related authorities from the Ministry of Health, the Tobacco Order which was supposed to be enforced by February 1, 2008 has been delayed to further notifications due to some amendments currently made by the ministry.

The decision of the new order which has the major support from members of the public is still being discussed by the related authorities from the ministry and will be informed to the public as soon as possible as to why the enforcement is being delayed.

So far, when interviewed by The Brunei Times, some restaurant and cafe owners in the sultanate said that they have not received any letter or notice saying that the enforcement of the order was due to start.

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• Tobacco Order Comes Into Effect From Feb 1 

The Tobacco Order which will be fully enforced by the Ministry of Health next month has the support of many locals in the country. After a final grace period of six months, which had started last August 2007, the Order will come into effect on February 1. The order aims to reduce consumption of "tobacco products" which include cigarettes, cigars or any other forms of tobacco including any mixture containing tobacco. The consumption of such products will be prohibited in public areas.

The order also makes it an offence to smoke in certain public places and vehicles and anyone found guilty of violating the order will face a fine not exceeding $1,000.

Furthermore, the order requires that managers of specified places or an operator of specified vehicles to display notices which states that smoking is prohibited by law.

Also, the purpose of the order is to deter and ultimately eliminate under age smoking which currently is a common habit in the country.

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• Brunei bans cigarette advertisements, smoking in selected public places 

Brunei began implementing new rules Wednesday to discourage smoking by banning cigarette advertisements and restricting smoking in public places.

The Tobacco Order -- which is expected to be fully enforced in six months or later -- aims to curb "the negative impact and danger of tobacco ... to the public's health, economy and environment," the Health Ministry said in a statement.

The law forbids advertisements related to smoking and states that tobacco importers and retailers must obtain government licenses. They must not sell tobacco products to youths under 18 years old.

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• MoH To Implement Tobacco Order 2005 

This was stated by the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Awg Suyoi, in his speech as guest of honour at the World No Tobacco Day launching ceremony held at The Mall in Gadong, yesterday.

According to the minister, the incidence of lung and bronchus cancer in Brunei had increased from 30 cases in 2003 to 56 cases in 2005.

This year's theme, which as chosen by World Health Organisation, is "100 per cent tobacco-free environment", while the slogan for this year's World No Tobacco Day is "Smoke-free inside - Create and Enjoy 100 per cent Smoke Free Environments".

"This theme gives attention for promoting an environment that is 100 per cent free from tobacco smoke in the most effective ways to protect the public from exposure to tobacco smoke," said the guest of honour.

"The Ministry of Health (MoH) in time to come will implement the Tobacco Order 2005 and its regulations. This order aims to protect the health of the citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam from the negative effects of tobacco usage and tobacco products," the Health Minister said.

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• Those Who Ignore 'No-Smoking' Signs, Advisories Face Prosecution 

Smokers who ignore "no smoking" signs and advisories in areas such as hospitals, restaurants and public buildings may be prosecuted once the Tobacco Order comes into effect by the first quarter or middle of this year, the Minister of Health said yesterday.

Responding to a query regarding the enforcement of non-smoking regulations in prohibited areas, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman in a committee session of the State Legislative Council said that the Tobacco Order had already been drafted and most regulations under it had been prepared.

These include the Tobacco Licensing of Importers, Wholesalers and Retailers and Tobacco Prohibition in certain places, among others.

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• People welcome new Tobacco Order 

MEMBERS of the public have supported the Ministry of Health's plan to prosecute smokers who ignore no-smoking signs in restricted areas.

The new ruling is set to come into effect under the Tobacco Order by the first quarter or middle of this year, following Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Suyoi Osman, the Minister of Health's comment on unheeded "no-smoking" signs in public places.

The Tobacco Order also includes the possibility of appropriate action that may be taken to reduce shisha-smoking or even a ban on the popular pastime.

Shafee Said, an International School Brunei student, believes that the problem can be tackled by setting up smoking areas or rooms.

"I think they should put up smoking rooms like they have in other countries. The shisha trend is growing in Brunei. I don't think a ban on the activity would matter much ," said the 18-year-old.

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• Anti-Smoking Drive Stepped Up  

The State Mufti Department and the Ministry of Health's Welfare, Social and Sports Corporate Body (WSSCB) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for publishing the English version of the book, Cigarettes and Smoking', which aims to highlight that smoking is prohibited in Islam.

The decision follows the success of Malay version of the State Mufti's edict on smoking, 'Rokok dan Merokok', which was released three years ago.

About 1,000 copies of Cigarettes and Smoking will be published by the health ministry's WSSCB, which will also bear the cost. The State Mufti will provide the necessary material for the book.

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• Imams slam frills that hook smokers 

Whichever way the tobacco products are dressed up, whatever healthy names they make use of, cigarette smoking brings about great danger to health. This, the Brunei religious leaders said was a fact.

Imams yesterday made this observation while commenting that new tobacco products, that do the same damage as they always did are now dressed up to look good and wholesome. This they slammed was a ploy to hook the younger generation into destroying themselves.

"Don't by duped by new tobacco products promoted in the market, tainted with healthy names and labels," the Imams observed in their Friday sermon. . . .

Meanwhile Tobacco Order 2005 also touches on the provisions for the control of smoking by minors whereby retailers can't sell/give, furnish any tobacco products to a person below the age of 18 years.

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• Brunei Acts To Kill Smoking Menace 

His Majesty Sultan of Brunei has agreed to implement of the Tobacco Order 2005.

The order to protect the population from the adverse effects of tobacco will be enforced soon. The Acting Minister of Health, Pehin Dato Haji Awang Hazair said this when he officiated at the 2006 World Without Tobacco Day yesterday.

According to the Acting Minister of Health, there are 40,000 smokers in Brunei, the majority of them are between 20 and 34 years.

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• Exhibition on 100 days without smoking 

An exhibition for the 100 days without smoking campaign, organised by ESP Company with the cooperation of Brunei Shell Petroleum Company's Health Centre, was held at the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre in Seria, Kuala Belait.

Officiating the event yesterday was BSP's Onshore Asset Manager, Awg Hj Kamaluddin bin Hj Bungsu. The campaign, which started February 1 and ended May 11, aims among others to reduce the smoking habit among staff of the company concerned. Smoking endangers the health of not only smokers but passive smokers as well.

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• Friday Sermon Highlights Adversities Of Smoking 

any people still ignore no smoking signs at government premises and public places, Imams said in the Friday sermon yesterday, expressing disappointment at "these selfish people who don't care about others around them, although campaigns and warnings on the dangers of smoking to health have been widespread".

Imams lamented in their sermon that smokers can be seen in many places, even in non-smoking areas, RTB reported yesterday.

"The sad thing is that they show no concern to people close-by, even though they know the smoke from their cigarettes is harmful to their neighbours," the Imams said. . . .

Also highlighted in the sermon were people who make excuses such as having relatives who died of cancer but never smoked, or grandparents who smoke but are still healthy in their late age.

The prayer leader responded in the sermon that there are various types of cancer, not all which are caused by smoking.

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• Imams Highlight Dangers Of Smoking In Khutbah 

Brunei's nationwide campaign against smokers received a big boost yesterday as the Sultanate's imams highlighted the dangers of smoking in their Khutbah.

The Friday sermon reminded smokers that smoking not only harms the smokers themselves but others around them too.

The latter are the helpless passive smokers, says yesterday's sermon. . . .

The sermon added that smokers could also be committing both sin and cruelty because they could cause others to have cancer and heart disease.

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