Tobacco firms call for greater enforcement


PETALING JAYA: Cigarette makers can raise a hue and cry about sin taxes but they know that a rise in taxes is inevitable this or next year but the bigger issue at hand is how to curb the growing illicit trade of cigarettes in the country. What these cigarette makers want is stronger enforcement to stop the sales of cigarettes where no duty is paid as this is hurting their market share. “Whichever way the industry goes, nothing much changes without a full scale enforcement,’’ Philip Morris director for Malaysia IIwoo Chong said in an interview. British American Tobacco Malaysia managing director Jack Bowles shares the same sentiments. More...