NILAI, January 17, 2018 – Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) has been awarded with the Blue Ribbon Certificate, presented by the Director-General of Health, Ministry of Health, YBhg. Datuk Dr. Noor Hisham Bin Abdullah. Minister of Health, Malaysia, Y.B. Dato’ S.Subramaniam was also present during the ceremony.

University Health Centre (PKU) USIM has been mandated by the Univerity Management to implement ’USIM as Smoke and Vape Free Campus’ campaign throughout the whole campus.

A number of programs and activities had been organized in USIM in 2016 and 2017 to achieve the goal towards ‘USIM as Smoke and Vape Free Campus’ including a talk on cancer by a Health Officer from Seremban District Health Office and Quit Smoking Clinic services every Wednesday held in PKU USIM.

Datuk Seri S.Subramaniam in his speech shared that the number of smokers in Malaysia is currenly about 5 million people (24%), and 47% of them are male. This is a massive number and will lead to health issues which will incur a huge cost. Even more imperative, cigarette smoke also harm other people who doesn’t smoke (passive smokers).

“In an effort to reduce the number of smokers, both active and passive, the government has undertaken multiple initiatives including to increase tax on cigarette, to ban sales of small cigarette packs, to increase the number of non-smoking areas (including smoke-free homes), and others. However, for these efforts to achieve their goals, the government cannot work alone. It needs support from all parties. Therefore, this Blue Ribbon Campaign is a recognition to encourage all parties to ensure that their premises are smoke-free.”

“We would like everyone to live in clean environment with clean air. For that to happen, we need the cooperation of all parties to inculcate this in our culture. We hope that giving recognitions to premises who are committed to execute this Blue Ribbon campaign will help to encourage change in communities and individuals in efforts to abolish the smoking habit in the society,” said Datuk Seri S. Subramaniam.

Prof Dato Dr Musa Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, also suggested several initiatives for the year 2018 to ensure that USIM is 100% smoke and vape free, including to install more “No Smoking” signages, to empower smoke-free enforcement by issuing fines for those who violated the rules in USIM, to increase the amount of fines, and to implement no smoking awareness and quit smoking activities by collaborating with parties who can create high impact no smoking awareness.

On 23 March 1995, the National Fatwa Council Committee had convened and among the fatwas issued was a fatwa stating that ”Smoking is not permissible (haram) in Islamic viewpoint because it is harmful”. Federal Territories Mufti in the 63th Irsyad Fatwa had also established that the use of electronic cigarettes (vapor) is not permisible because of its likeness to cigarette, because it is harmful and wasteful, non-Islamic culture and viewed as unrighteous.

 

Prepared by:
Noorumaina Mohamed Yunus
Pusat Komunikasi Strategik (StraComm)
Aras 1, Canselori Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM)
71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan
Tel : 06-798 8026/8027/6284 Faks : 06-798 8204