Contrary to widespread anticipations of increases in taxes on tobacco and alcohol, the Budget 2012 does not touch any of the so-called sin taxes.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak did not mention them in his speech, reports Free Malaysia Today.
Among the first to react was the Confederation of Malaysian Tobacco Manufacturers (CMTM), which welcomed the decision not to raise tobacco taxes.
The 2012 budget, which also did not raise income tax, minimum wage and the goods and services tax (GST), is widely seen as an election budget, according to Free Malaysia Today.
Currently, taxes make up about 54 per cent of the retail price of cigarettes sold in Malaysia. (pi)