MALAYSIA
The Finance Ministry says the price of tobacco, including cigarettes, will remain the same despite the zero-rated Goods and Services Tax (GST) which came into effect on June 1.
A ministry statement said, “The government is of principle and emphasized that the retail price of tobacco including cigarettes cannot be reduced. This is because it is a hazard to health and any reduction of price will indirectly be considered as a form of promotion which contradicts Regulation 5A, Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004.”
The ministry further added that the unchanged price was also consistent with its international commitment under Article 6 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.