It is only one step from nicotine addition to drug addition, said the three-million-strong Malaysian Youth Council (MYC), as it gave the thumbs-down to an international tobacco industry event to be held in Kuala Lumpur in November.

Executive committee vice-president Sobry Ahmad said today that smokers are likely to look for "more powerful sources" of substance abuse when addiction sets in.

"Tobacco companies are just trying to influence our youth into adopting a smoking lifestyle," he noted, when asked to comment on a protest being mounted against the Asian Tobacco Congress and Trade Fair, scheduled to be held in Kuala Lumpur.

The Nov 14-16 international congress and exhibition - with the theme 'Emerging Tobacco Markets' - is organised by Tabexpo Coalition, comprising Tobacco Reporter and Tobacco Journal International based respectively in the United States and Germany.

India-based non-governmental organisation Green Motherland was scheduled to launch a 'million signatures drive' today against the event on the basis that it would set back a global no-tobacco campaign supported by the World Health Organisation. The signatures will be handed over to the Malaysian government.

Sobry agreed with the move, saying that Malaysia should avoid being seen as the entry-point for tobacco promotion in Asia

"We should not abuse the trust other countries have in us. We should not allow (the congress) to take place as it will encourage distribution and promotion of tobacco products. They (the organisers) are exploiting us," he noted.

He also said the two-day international event would negate the government's move to discourage youth from taking up smoking under a 'tak nak' campaign launched by premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last February.

"The government should be firm. If we encourage this (event), it would be an indirect advertisement to influence the young," he said.

'Resist pressure'

Pointing out that multinational companies only aim at reaping huge profits, Sobry said Malaysians should be wary of being taken for granted by manufacturers that are prevented from promoting tobacco in their countries of origin.

"Malaysia as a developing country should not be under pressure to promote cigarettes and other tobacco products as part of our lifestyle," he said.

"People from developing countries are usually prone to taking up smoking. Many are poor and have a low standard of living, and are often forced into smoking out of desperation."

Sobry suggested emphasis on campaigns that instill awareness of health from a young age, while calling on parents to closely monitor their children's activities.

Led by Selangor Mentri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo, MYC aims to instill responsibility, independence, volunteerism and patriotism among youth.

Sobry's comments differ markedly from the position taken by another youth group, the Malaysian Association of Youth Clubs (MAYC), which is headed by Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

Last year, MAYC was lambasted for accepting sponsorship from tobacco companies for its anti-smoking campaign.