LIMBANG: ‘Kemt’ and ‘Pally’ are names that trigger an anxiety attack among parents here.

They are cigarette-shaped sweets that are packaged like cigarettes. At first glance, the sweet boxes look like real cigarette boxes. Parents are worried that such sales gimmick may eventually tempt children to start smoking.

Ibrahim Tapa, 38, said the products, known as ‘Smoke Candy’ here, were believed to be imported from China and were sold at 50 sen per box.

Unethical and illegal

This kind of gimmick by traders goes against the government’s anti-smoking policy, where millions of ringgit is spent to discourage people from picking up the smoking habit and is making a mockery of the government’s effort to create a healthy society.”

A Borneo Post survey here showed that several traders were selling ‘Smoke Candy’ openly.

The authorites were unaware of the sale of such products but said such sweets are banned under the Control of Tobacco Act, 2004 and the Food Act, 1983.

“The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism have asked the public to provide more information so that they could take action.