Tax revenue from tobacco not a priority: President Muizzu

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said today that earning revenue from tobacco is not important to him, stressing that his administration’s focus is on protecting public health rather than making money from tobacco sales.

He made the remarks in response to a journalist’s question during the ratification ceremony of the amendment to the Tobacco Control Act, which introduced a generational ban on tobacco sales in Maldives.

When asked if the tobacco control bill would reduce state revenue, President Muizzu said he would prefer that no tobacco products are imported into the country at all.

“I don't think about making money from this sector,” he said.

The President also explained that any funds received through tobacco taxes will be directed solely toward improving public health.

"We have decided to spend on improving the public health. We will spend whatever we get [from the tobacco tax] on awareness, various programs and the development of the health sector as a whole," he said.

He added that tobacco-related revenue should be recorded in the state budget as expenditure allocated for public health initiatives.

When asked about the success of similar bans in other countries, President Muizzu expressed confidence that the Maldives would see different results due as it has a small population.

"There is no other country in the world that follows the same religion and speaks the same language. Maldives is looking for a unique solution," he said.