A Malaysian state government has said it was considering a policy of not promoting civil servants who are smokers, in an effort to discourage the habit, a news report said Wednesday.

The government of the north-eastern Kelantan state, which is controlled by the hardline Parti Islam SeMalaysia, said the move would be part of "punitive measures" to curb smoking.

"I am very disappointed that anti-smoking campaigns have not worked," said state women's development, family and health chairman Wan Ubaidah Omar.

"Based on studies, almost half of the male population in Kelantan are smokers and this is a worrying trend which could get worse," she was quoted as saying by the Star online news portal.
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