MTS#18, Dr. Koong Heng Nung, Founder, Tobacco Free Generation International Ltd, on Tackling Smoking

Mr. Tok Show

Today 31st May, is World No Tobacco Day, I specially sit down with Dr. Koong Heng Nung to talk about how we can save our future generations from becoming the victims of smoking and vaping.
Dr Koong is the Founder of TFG International Ltd. TFG stands for Tobacco Free Generation. It is a registered non-profit organisation that seeks to promote the tobacco endgame.
As a Specialist Doctor, he runs Koong & Ho Surgery Centre Pte Ltd, at Mt. Elizabeth Novena Hospital.
At the international level, he is the global leader of the Tobacco Free Generation Endgame approach that is increasingly being adopted by governments to prevent smoking and vaping related diseases.
Learn more about TFG's Vision & Mission!
Website: https://www.tobaccofreegen.com/
Timestamps
0:00 JJ's Introduction
0:39 Dr. Koong's Self Introduction
1:16 On Lung Cancer
2:25 What does World No Tobacco Day Mean for Dr. Koong
3:19 JJ's Experience with Smokers
4:45 Current Measures to Bring Down Smoking Rates
8:46 The Shortcomings of Minimum Age Law
14:34 The Basis of Minimum Age Law
16:12 TFG's Vision
19:21 The Evil Tobacco Industry/We should not "Blame" Smokers
21:38 Educating the Younger Generation
22:46 TFG's Methodologies
24:15 We All Hope our Young Can Refrain from Smoking, Including the Smokers
26:29 Reaching out to the Smoke Free Cohorts/We Need to "Turn Off the Tap"
28:58 How do the Young React to TFG's Vision
31:47 How is TFG's Vision Communicated to Primary School Students?
34:53 Second Hand Smoke Kills
36:43 The Grandfathering Clause; Phasing out Current Practices
38:45 On Legislation
42:18 Success Story in Balanga City, Philippines
43:50 Teaching our Younger Generation Advocacy
46:49 Ground Consensus in Crucial in Implementing TFG's Vision
47:47 What is Stopping the Singapore Government from Implementing TFG?
52:35 Enforcing TFG on the Ground
54:27 What about Tourists?
55:27 The Vaping Problem/Is Vaping "Safer" than Smoking?
58:00 Is Just Education Efforts Sufficient?
59:31 The Global TFG Movement
1:01:55 Is Dr. Koong Optimistic that TFG's Vision can be Implemented in Singapore?
1:03:47 Implementing TFG on the Ground in Balanga City, Philippines
1:04:49 Cigarettes Retailers' Position
1:06:20 Going Against TFG; Is it Fair to Restrict Our Future Generation?
1:08:40 The Issue of Human Rights; The Rights to Smoke
1:10:28 Enforcing TFG on the Ground
1:11:27 The Social Cost of Smoking
1:12:42 Cost of Lung Cancer Treatment/Surviving Lung Cancer
1:14:49 How did Dr. Koong Start Championing the TFG Vision
1:17:27 Dr. Koong's Sense of Mission/Passion to Teach Advocacy
1:21:25 The People Supporting TFG
1:24:23 Kind Local Philanthropist's Support
1:26:02 Volunteering with TFG
1:26:42 Dr. Koong's Goal to Spread TFG's Vision Globally
1:28:16 JJ's Thoughts/Outro
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