IDEAS took money from tobacco firms and opposed anti-smoking plans, says UK daily
FMT Reporters
-January 24, 2019 4:25 PM
PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur-based Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) has been named as one of over 100 think tanks around the world which took money from tobacco companies and argued against government attempts to introduce tougher laws to curb the smoking habit, an investigation by Britain’s The Guardian newspaper has revealed..The daily’s investigation said IDEAS, a strong advocate of free market policies, had argued against plain packaging of cigarettes and a proposal to increase tax on the tobacco industry.
“The tax hike ultimately failed, as members of government cited concerns pushed by the think tank about growth in smuggling,” the paper reported on its investigation, which among others found at least 106 “free market” think tanks in 24 countries helping tobacco companies’ resistance to stricter government regulations.
The paper said IDEAS’ funds from the tobacco industry were shown in its annual financial reports.
In its response, the think tank admitted getting grants from tobacco companies, but said it had decided against any more such assistance since last year.
“We have always been transparent about our funding, including from the tobacco industry and we have been uncompromising in our independence,” it said in a statement.
“Our research priorities and policy positions reflect our principles of rule of law, free markets, limited government and individual liberty.”
Last year, IDEAS spoke out against Putrajaya’s plan to introduce plain packaging for cigarettes, saying it had failed to decrease the number of smokers in countries where the rule has been implemented.
IDEAS was also part of 62 think tanks worldwide which wrote to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to voice its opposition to the plain packaging policy.
The group among others cited an increase in the number of illicit tobacco consumption in Australia, which was the first country to implement the plain packaging.
“Not only does this represent a tax revenue loss of nearly A$2 billion, it represents a market carve out to criminal gangs and terrorists,” IDEAS had said.
Meanwhile, The Guardian investigation, citing company documents and disclosures, found at least 53 free-market think tanks had accepted donations from tobacco giants.
It said 25 such groups also argued that taxing tobacco companies were ineffective and encouraged smuggling.
“In some cases, anti-tax campaigns are extensive, even though experts said taxes are widely recognised as the most effective means to reduce smoking,” the paper wrote.
