Speech by SPS at launch of Muharam Challenge

20 Dec 2009

By Senior Parlimentary Secretary, Mr Hawazi Daipi

Mr Lam Pin Woon

CEO, Health Promotion Board,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me begin by wishing all of you a very Happy New Year.

2 I am delighted to join you today at the launch of the Muharram Challenge or Cabaran Muharram 2010. It is a pleasure to see many of you here taking the first step to quit smoking. By quitting successfully, you are not only on your way to making a difference in your own life, but that of your family as well.

3 Indeed, quitting smoking is a challenge for many people. The process is like running up a steep hill. Most of us may become out of breath soon after starting and are tempted to give up rather than persevere. But if we arm ourselves with strong determination and prepare ourselves with the skills to handle the task, I assure you that you would be surprised at your own ability to conquer difficulties to reach the top of that hill.

4 In the same light, you can become stronger when you quit smoking successfully. And there are three good reasons why you should quit as early as possible. Firstly, many of you already know that smoking causes cancer, heart diseases, stroke and chronic lung diseases. In Singapore, smoking is a risk factor for 6 of the 8 leading causes of death . In other words, smoking worsens the health of those with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and other chronic conditions. Our local study in 2007 showed that smoking was most common among the Malay males, with more than 4 in 10 Malay males who smoked daily, compared to about 2 in 10 Chinese and Indian males who smoked. It is therefore important that you encourage one another to quit smoking for good.

5 Secondly, you can save money each year just by quitting smoking. Assuming you smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, which costs about $10, you would be able to save up to $4,000 in a year. Think about what you can do with $4,000, or even $2,000 if you console yourself by saying that you smoke only half a pack a day. You can use it for your children’s education funds, your medical insurance, or spend it on necessary home appliances or furniture to enhance your home, or save it for rainy days until the economy recovers. Money spent on smoking can be put to better use if you kick the habit successfully.

6 Thirdly, parents play an important role in influencing children. As parents who smoke, it is more likely that your children will also pick up the bad habit. A survey among local secondary school students aged 13 – 16 years showed that the proportion of youth smokers who had at least one parent who smoked is almost twice that of non-smokers. We often want to give the best for our children, and keeping them away from cigarette smoke is the best start we can give to them. So, I encourage all of you to quit today and be a positive role model for your children.

7 We can all understand why it is important to quit smoking. However, the real challenge is how this can be achieved. The annual Muharram Challenge, which is organised by the Health Promotion Board, provides the opportunity for you to do just that. In the next 4 weeks, you will be undergoing smoking cessation workshops and exciting teambuilding activities which will empower you with the knowledge and skills to manage your cigarette cravings. We realise that support is crucial in order to quit smoking. Therefore, this year, new quit options such as phone counselling by professional Quit Advisors and a sms programme will be made available to provide more support to you. I encourage you to actively participate in all the activities and to seek help from the experienced Quit Advisors.

8 Remember, you are not alone in this journey to quit smoking. Your family members and the Quit Advisors will be behind you. As for your supporters who are here today, I call on you to be understanding and patient in helping your loved one quit smoking. Instead of nagging him or her to not light up, engage in common activities to distract him or her and encourage him or her with kind words and reminders.

9 Kicking the habit may not be easy but with self-motivation, new coping skills, and encouragement from your family members and Quit Advisors, it is not impossible. According to last year's Muharram Challenge participant, Jainal Bin Ngersiman, aged 47 yrs, he chose to drink coffee and eat healthy snacks to stop himself from thinking about smoking. His wife also supported him by rewarding him with superb cooking. He acknowledged that it was difficult to quit smoking but with this support he was able to quit successfully.

10 As for our winner of Muharram Challenge 2009, Mohd Arifin Bin Mohd Ganda, aged 52 yrs, he reminded himself of his family as he pulled through the Challenge. He realised if he went back on his habit, he'd be hurting not only himself but also his family. His key motivation was saving money, gaining confidence and building a happy family. 

11 Last Year, Muharram Challenge saw an increase in the number of participants who stayed smoke-free during the challenge - from a success rate of 12% in 2005 to nearly 15% last year. Just as how hard it may be to run uphill, once you learn how to overcome the difficulties, you will find that the journey will be smoother and faster. This is the same when you quit smoking.

12 I am looking forward to seeing all of you participate in this exciting programme and wish you every success. I believe that we can do better and become stronger by overcoming challenges together such as quitting smoking, as a community.

13 With that, I wish you all a healthy and happy year ahead. Thank You.