Cigarette prices will go up at midnight after Putrajaya increased the excise tax on the tobacco products, according to the China Press .

British American Tobacco Malaysia (BATM) in a statement tonight said prices of cigarettes produced by the company will go up by RM3.20.

It said this was in response to an increase of over 40 percent in excise tax by Putrajaya.

"The tobacco industry has already been hit by a huge 12 percent increase in cigarette excise just a year ago on Nov 1.

"This was followed by the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax at six percent beginning April 1 this year," BATM managing director Stefano Clini was quoted as saying.

It said premium brands such as Dunhill, Kent and Benson, which were previously priced at RM13.80, will be RM17 from tomorrow onwards.

Likewise, Lucky Strike, which is RM14.30, will be increased to RM17.50.

As for sub-premium brands such as Pall Mall and Peter Stuyvesant, their prices will go up from RM12.30 to RM15.50.

The increase is likely to prompt some users to move to e-cigarettes, which largely remains unregulated for now without a taxing regime.

However, the Health Ministry is in the midst of cracking down on e-cigarettes.