BEDE, my younger colleague is 26 and a smoker. I am not sure how long he has been smoking but I believe he has enough of the tobacco addiction.
Recently, he circulated a mail around the office - to me, that was the best email he sent out to his colleagues since he joined us two years ago.
'To all our smokers: Quit smoking by October' was Bede's earnest appeal. He also included an attachment "Quitting Tips" by Patrick Reynolds to encourage his colleagues to stub it out.
"The most important step to take is the first step - admitting you have an addiction", was Reynolds' opening remarks in his package of quitting tips.
That Bede sent out the mail during the fasting month of Ramadan was timely indeed. This is actually the best time for our Muslim brethren who are smokers to quit the habit. It is also the perfect time for them to set an example to those of other faiths to do something good for themselves, healthwise.
I have the greatest respect and an admirer of Muslims who fast during the holy month of Ramadan. I confess I would have great difficulty in doing so, if that is required of my religion.
So why do I say that the month of Ramadan is almost the perfect time to quit the smoking habit?
Cleansing the soul
After all, you are not permitted to smoke from dusk till dawn. For smokers, that is almost half the battle won. What you need to go through is another few hours before bedtime and the battle is won. I know it's easier said than done but ultimately, it's the willpower that will get you through.
Recently, a minister also called on Muslims not to break their fast by smoking.
"Break it with dates, fruits or water," he advised.
"Islam does not encourage Muslims to smoke while breaking fast. Smoking is not good for our health, the thought requires us not to take something that will harm or affect our health, especially after fasting the whole day," the minister said, adding that smoking is not only bad for health but also a waste, according to Islam.
Doing some reading on Ramadan myself, it has been stated that "during Ramadan dinner known as Iftar , eating, drinking and smoking are not allowed between dawn (fajr), and sunset ( maghrib ).
During Ramadan, Muslims are also expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam by refraining from violence, anger, envy, greed, lust, angry and sarcastic retorts, refrain from gambling and betting and gossip.
All obscene and irreligious sights and sounds are to be avoided. Purity of both thought and action is important. The fast is an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised level of closeness to God.
The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. Properly observing the fast brings on a comfortable feeling of peace and calm.
In a nutshell, Ramadan is a time of worship and contemplation, a time to strengthen family and community ties, so I can conclude.
To all Muslims who smoke, the minister has this to tell them, "If you can restrain from smoking the whole day while fasting, why not continue with the effort at night? The fasting month is probably a good time for you to stop smoking".
Unsuccessful campaigns
Sadly, it is a fact that efforts made by the government to discourage Malaysians from smoking have not been successful.
The five-year "Tak Nak" (Don't Want) campaign launched several years ago and costing a whooping RM200 million had failed to curb smoking. It was officially declared a failure by the Ministry of Health.
Last year's National Health Survey revealed that 23.2 percent of adult Malaysians smoked, while separate surveys have shown nearly 25 percent of young people smoke.
I am aware that our medical people are constantly making efforts to help Malaysians kick the smoking habit. In the Kuala Lumpur Hospital, for example, I believe there is a weekly 'anti-smoking' session to help patients and others in that direction.
Visiting the Selayang Hospital over the past week, I've noticed that a anti-smoking campaign is also on. There were "Nafas Baru Bermula Ramadan" banners all over the hospital.
Unfortunately, the people to approach and the numbers to contact are not well publicised. Perhaps the telephone numbers of 'Stop Smoking' centres which have been set up in many general hospitals in the country could also be printed on cigarette packs, alongside the health warnings and graphic photos.
It is a fact that there are many smokers in the country who want to kick the habit and they need help in doing so. It is also a fact that many of them do not know whom to turn to for help.
Thus advertising the contact numbers of the 'Stop Smoking' units of our government hospitals as well as those from voluntary and professional organisations such as the Malaysian Medical Association will go a long way in reaching out to those who want to quit. I sincerely hope that this could be adopted soon, for the sake of Malaysian smokers.
The number of Malaysian smokers is constantly rising. According to a report from the Consumers Association of Penang, more than 50 per cent of the Malaysian adult male population are smokers. This figure is higher than that of the United States (35%) and the United Kingdom (38%).
It has also been reported that about 50 children below the age of 18 start smoking each day, and that about one in five teenagers smoke. Ten thousand Malaysians die every year from smoking-related ailments. Billions of ringgit are spent in treating tobacco-related diseases.
Smoking not cool lah!
Early this year, the government moved in at targetting young female smokers as their rising number is worrying. According to the Health Ministry, their number could rival that of young men in the next 10 years.
To the young women smokers out there, listen to what this doctor has to say.
It is a myth that smoking is "cool" and helps relieve stress, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) clinical pharmacy lecturer Dr Mohamad Haniki Nik Mohamed said, adding that many people, especially women, have succumbed to smoking due to these myths created by tobacco companies.
"They have introduced mentholated cigarettes to promote the idea that you'll feel cool if you smoke.
"Tobacco doesn't make you look or feel cool. It is all a myth as it has nothing to do with being cool or stress-free," he said.
Dr Mohamad Haniki said that cigarettes had nothing to do with relieving stress.
"Nicotine is a potent and highly addictive substance. It elicits a sensation in the brain to give a person pleasurable effects but it also acts as a depressant, especially in high doses," he said.
Above all, women smokers will also suffer bad oral hygiene, bad breath and cancers of the breast, lungs, uterus and kidneys.
Well, do our young women, and men too, have any more reason to start smoking?
To Bede, well done for taking the initiative in appealing to your colleagues to stop smoking.
Do it again at the next Ramadan. This time, start early.
FRANCIS PAUL is a smoker with no class. He 'steals' cigarettes from his colleagues. He can be reached at [email protected]
