KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 5): Malaysia's coffee shop and sundry shop owners had today signed a memorandum to lobby the government to reintroduce 10-stick cigarette packs to fight illegal cigarette trades in the country. The memorandum is addressed to the Prime Minister's Office.

The Malaysia-Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors' General Association, Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association, Malaysian Muslim Restaurant Owners Association and the Federation of Sundry Goods Merchants Association of Malaysia have formed a coalition to push for the reintroduction of 10-stick cigarette packs in Malaysia.

Malaysia-Singapore Coffee Shop Proprietors' General Association chairman Ho Su Mong said the memorandum would be sent to the Prime Minister's Office today.

"The retail associations are calling for the government to bring back the 10-stick pack to fight the illegal trade and to reduce consumption in the market," Ho said at press conference here today. He said enforcement alone was not enough and additional measures were needed to stop the growth of the illegal cigarette market.

It was reported that Malaysia had banned the seven- and 10-stick cigarette packs since 2006 before removing the 14-stick pack in 2010.