B@Ktif Walkathon To Expose The Dangers Of Smoking
By Malek Hashim

Bandar Seri Begawan - The third phase of the B@KTIF competition continued yesterday with Sinar Mentari Junior team showcasing their one-day project with a theme of `Jauhkan Diri Dari Menjadi Hamba Rokok' or distance oneself from becoming a cigarette slave held at the Youth Development Center, Muara-Tutong Highway.

Present as the guest of honour during the launching ceremony was Awang Haji Metassim bin Haji Jibah, the Youth and Sports Department Director, Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports.

"Scientific research has shown positive relationship between tobacco consumption and cancer diseases, heart diseases, lung diseases and other types of disease, and according to World Health Organization (WHO), the annual total smoking-related death had increased from one million in mid-1960's to three million and the figure is expected to increase to 10 million per year in 2020", Awang Haji Metassim said.

"The danger posed by smoking does not only involve the western countries but also threatening and becoming the main health problem in developing country including Brunei Darussalam", Awang Haji Metassim added.

Awang Haji Metassim also said that the project conducted was pure because it can create awareness about the dangers of smoking and smoke exposure, and also in line with the country's recent June 1st, 2008 Tobacco Order and its regulation enforcement.

Cited in the tobacco order and its regulation, Awang Haji Metassim said that importing, distributing, selling and buying tobacco for those under 18 years old and smoking in public areas are an offence and chargeable under the law.

Awang Haji Metassim said, Youth Development Centre is not excluded from the tobacco order and its regulation and he praised the efforts and initiatives of Sinar Mentari Junior team in forwarding tobacco issue as the concept of their project and he hoped that the project would create awareness to participants.

Some 148 Youth Development Centre trainees participated the one-day project, which includes aerobic session and walkathon during the day. The objectives of the project were to instil dislike in smoking, creating healthy and energetic youths, making the centre to be smoking free zone area, assisting and supporting friends who are trying to quit smoking and to create a country that is free from smoking.

Awang Mohd. Enddy Zulyady bin Awang Sapar, the Head of Sinar Mentari Junior team also gave his opening remark during the launching ceremony. The guest of honour also launched the Youth Development Centre's new antismoking monument and presented the prizes to various participants.

Also present was Hajah Fatimah bte Pehin Penyurat HajiAwang Mohd Salleh, the Head of Youth Development Centre who gave away various prizes to the walkathon winners.

Sinar Mentari Junior team consisted of Awang Mohd Enddy Zulyady bin Awang Sapar, head of the team, and Sri NurShazwana Eliana bte Abdullah Yasun and Isman bin Haji Ibrahim, which are all Youth Development Centre trainees.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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