PETALING JAYA: The taxes levied on cigarettes and tobacco products at all duty-free islands and zones is the right move as it will reduce demand for these products, say anti-smoking groups. Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) coordinator for tobacco control and Malaysian Council for Tobacco Control secretary-general Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah said the taxes imposed are “long overdue”. “Malaysia is a party to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control that requires countries that signed on to implement the requirements under the convention. The convention requires the country to implement demand and supply reduction strategies. “One of the ways of demand reduction is by increasing the price by way of additional tax. There should not be any tax-free status for any tobacco products under the convention. We welcome the move to abolish tax-free status for tobacco products in Malaysia. It is a long overdue decision, ” he said.