The enormous significance of tobacco, as the commonest risk factor for major morbidity and mortality in society is well recognised by the Ministry of Health. Hence, tobacco control is given its due priority in order to attain total public health in this country. Established more than 5 years ago, the Cancer and Tobacco Control Unit of the Disease Control Division, focuses on legislation, smoking cessation, research, health promotion and advocacy as main strategies of the National Tobacco Control Programme.

Considerations for achieving the above vision will be realised when there is widespread general publicawareness concerning tobacco, its hazards and wastefulness. This appropriate knowledge then becomes the basis for established right societal attitude that translates to behavioural norm of not using tobacco.

It is envisaged that by the year 2020, tobacco will no longer be a major public health concern in Malaysia, where decreasing national prevalence of tobacco use is halved and tobacco attributed diseases and mortality will continuously decline.

Comprehensive and effective tobacco control programme will be based on the following objectives:

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Decrease the prevalence of tobacco consumption amongst Malaysians Reduce the uptake of smoking by young people Increase the number of smokers giving up smoking Minimize and eventually eliminate exposure to environmental tobacco smokeamong non-smoking populations in all public and work places Reduce the burden of tobacco related deaths and diseases in the country Do away with economic and social dependence on tobacco and tobacco products for sustainable livelihood