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LETTER
FROM CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF PENANG (MALAYSIA)
Fax: 41 1 384 9696 13 May 2002 URGENT APPEAL Mr. Joseph S. Blatter Dear Mr. Joseph Blatter, STOP B.A.T. FROM SPONSORING TELECAST OF WORLD CUP TO MALAYSIA With reference to the above we wish to bring to your attention that British American Tobacco (Malaysia) is sponsoring the telecast of the World Cup to Malaysians through the Dunhill brand and this contravenes FIFA's tobacco-free policy. This is not the first time that this kind of tobacco brand sponsorship of the telecast of World Cup has happened. It happened previously in 1998 with the same tobacco brand and the Consumers Association of Penang had registered a complaint with FIFA. Upon request from FIFA, prior to the world Cup, CAP sent samples of the type of promotions and advertising that took place in Malaysia. FIFA was unable to do anything to stop the sponsorship of the World Cup telecast then. We are outraged that FIFA has allowed it to happen again for this 2002 games. It appears that FIFA is not serious about fully implementing your tobacco-free policy to include sponsorship of telecast. This situation is worse for us this year as the World Cup will be kicked off on the same day as the World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and the theme for this year is "Tobacco-Free Sports". This is a cruel joke for Malaysians, as our citizens, including children will be bombarded with messages of Dunhill rather that WHO's smoke-free message. In fact the advertising of Dunhill's sponsorship of the World Cup has already started and Malaysians are currently being bombarded with positive messages of a tobacco brand-name with football on prime time television. Direct cigarette advertisements are banned on television, radio, newspapers and billboards. We register our outrage that FIFA has not acted to stop the association of tobacco with soccer despite our complaint to you four years ago and despite your tobacco-free policy. Your inaction has resulted in Malaysians being confused over WHO's important anti smoking messages for World No Tobacco Day and the pro-tobacco message from the World Cup. In fact WHO's message will be sabotaged from effectively reaching the public, especially children. We want you to take immediate action to implement your tobacco-free policy in Malaysia, stop this confusion and enable the Malaysian public to enjoy a tobacco-free World Cup. We look forward to your fast action. Thank you
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