‘Bill to be tabled for second reading’

PSSC has given full support to anti-smoking legislation, says Dr Zaliha

PETALING JAYA: The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 will be tabled for its second reading in Parliament next Tuesday, says Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

The Health Minister said the Bill will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat after receiving the nod from the Cabinet on Wednesday.

“The tabling of the Bill for its second reading in Parliament shows a continuous commitment by the ministry and the Madani government to ensuring the health and safety of the rakyat against the dangers of smoking products,” she said in a statement yesterday.

She said the Bill was tabled for its first reading on June 12 this year but was subsequently referred to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on health for further scrutiny.

She added that the bipartisan PSSC had given its support to the Bill after scrutinising it with the aim of strengthening the proposed law.

“A series of meetings and engagement sessions were held between the PSSC and relevant stakeholders, including the ministry. Following which, several recommendations were put forth by PSSC and the ministry, and all were well received,” she added.

Dr Zaliha urged Members of Parliament, parents, teachers and community leaders to voice their support for the ministry’s efforts to table the Bill for its second reading.

In June 2022, former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin attempted to address the issue of smoking and vaping among youths by introducing the Control of Tobacco Product and Smoking Bill 2022, or generational end game (GEG) Bill.

However, there was opposition to the proposed law during the first and second readings of the Bill made on July 27 and Aug 1 last year. The Bill was then referred to PSSC on Aug 2, with a report tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 5 last year, but the proposed law ran aground when Parliament was dissolved five days later.

It was learnt that fines for suppliers under the GEG ban on tobacco and vaping would be increased under the current Bill although lower fines were proposed for buyers or consumers in the GEG group.

A maximum fine of RM500 or community service was proposed under the Bill during its first reading in June for anyone born from 2007 caught smoking or vaping, using or purchasing tobacco or vape products, as an alternative without any criminal record.