Kuala Lampur, April 16 -- The Health Ministry's recent directive requiring pharmacies to display the prices of medicines is a welcome step toward empowering consumers.

In a climate of rising living costs and medical inflation, such transparency helps Malaysians make informed decisions, promotes fair pricing, and encourages healthy competition.

It is a policy that trusts the rakyat with information and assumes that the public is capable of making rational choices - a principle that should guide all consumer-facing regulations.

But the very same ministry is also reminding retailers that the display of legal tobacco products remains prohibited. This contrast is puzzling. On one hand, visibility is seen as a tool to protect consumers; on t...