KUCHING: Sarawak has earned the grim distinction of recording Malaysia’s highest rate of illicit cigarette consumption, with nearly eight out of every 10 cigarettes smoked in the state being illegal.
According to the latest Illicit Cigarette Study (ICS) by NielsenIQ, illegal cigarettes account for 78.8 per cent of total tobacco consumption in Sarawak, compared to 77.3 per cent in Sabah and a national average of 54.4 per cent.
The alarming figures have prompted Pertubuhan Transformasi Dayak (TRADA) to call for a sweeping overhaul of strategies to combat the underground tobacco trade.
TRADA founder and president, Joseph Janting, said in a press statement released on Friday (March 6) that the problem extends far beyond enforcement, describing it as a systemic consumer and market issue.
Sarawak’s mean household income stands at RM5,504, and with illicit cigarettes sold for as little as RM3 to RM8 per pack, many cash-strapped smokers have little incentive to choose legal alternatives.
He warned that large segments of the population are unknowingly consuming goods never subjected to laboratory testing or safety verification.
Enforcement agencies have nonetheless mounted significant operations.
In Sibu alone, customs authorities seized 8.33 million untaxed cigarette sticks in a single raid valued at over RM6.3 million.
Separate operations in Sarikei uncovered 6.77 million illegal cigarettes and nearly 90,000 litres of untaxed liquor, while the Maritime Enforcement Agency intercepted a vessel off Lawas carrying hundreds of cartons of smuggled cigarettes.
Despite these successes, TRADA argues that illicit distribution channels remain deeply entrenched across land, port and maritime routes.
“When illegal cigarettes remain significantly cheaper and easily accessible, enforcement alone becomes reactive,” Joseph said.
TRADA is calling on policymakers to adopt a more holistic approach that tackles the underlying market dynamics fuelling demand, including reducing the price gap between legal and illegal products.
“A healthy market is one where products are legal, regulated and fairly priced. Bringing down the illegal cigarette rate is critical to rebuilding trust and protecting communities,” the statement concluded.
