2. As told by Health Minister Datuk Jui Meng:
“Statistics show that every day about 50 teenagers below the age
of 18 start smoking and most of them become hardcore
smokers,” said Chua in a speech read by Kuala Dipang state
assemblyman Dr Chong Fah during the anti-smoking run here
Sunday.
He said that according to a recent World Health Organisation
report, more than 100,000 youths started smoking daily.
“In 1998, the Government introduced therapy for smokers in four
major hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh and Seremban.
“Today, 44 hospitals and 111 health centres provide this
treatment,” he said.
Chua said that in 1999, about 1,000 smokers were able to kick the
habit.
He added that the ministry had compounded 11,211 people for
smoking in public places that year.
Of the number, 1,366 were youths.