Dzulkefly among 3 M'sian recipients of World No Tobacco Day Award
(From left) Dr Noraryana Hassan, Dzulkefly Ahmad, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and Dr Murallitharan Munisamy at the WHO award ceremony.
PETALING JAYA : Three Malaysians, including health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad, were awarded the World No Tobacco Day Award by the World Health Organization (WHO) today.
Dzulkefly received the award jointly with health ministry disease control division deputy director Dr Noraryana Hassan and Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control chairman Dr Murallitharan Munisamy from WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
According to a WHO statement, this is the first time that the award has been presented to recipients from Malaysia.
'The annual global award, given in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day on May 31, acknowledges contributions to tobacco control by individuals, organisations, and government departments worldwide.
'The award recognises their roles in the development and implementation of the standalone Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852), an initiative that has been pursued since Malaysia ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005,' it said.
Dzulkefly said stewarding the Act through Parliament 'required navigating legal, economic and social challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic and multiple changes of government'.
'Even now, following the passing of the Act, we continue to strengthen tobacco control measures and respond to emerging issues, such as the vaping concerns seen last week,' he said.
Early this month, the health ministry said it has issued 43,455 compound notices totalling RM10,424,350 for various offences under Act 852 since the law came into effect on Oct 1, 2024.
It said that as of April 20 this year, three investigation papers have been opened for offences related to the prohibition of advertising smoking products, and five concerning the promotion and sponsorship of smoking products.
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