The health ministry is meeting the parliamentary select committee (PSC) on health today to finalise details of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023 and its generational end game (GEG) policy.
Health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said she would be engaging with the PSC, stakeholders, and panel experts to hear their suggestions and views on the bill.
“The ministry is open to all their opinions. We will listen to their suggestions and hold a discussion this afternoon,” she told reporters after an event here.
Zaliha said the bill is expected to be tabled for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat next month.
“Hopefully, we will be able to find a common ground and the bill will be accepted by all MPs next month.”
Zaliha added that among the topics to be discussed in today’s meeting are the penalties to be imposed upon violation of the proposed tobacco control legislation.
First tabled by former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin in July last year, the GEG bill seeks to outlaw smoking for anyone born on or after Jan 1, 2007. It was held up due to resistance from several MPs over its contents. At the time, a PSC on health was asked to address those issues.
The bill met with the same fate in June when it was referred back to the PSC for review. Zaliha had previously said PSC members, MPs, professional bodies and NGOs had demanded some matters under the bill be reviewed further.
Zaliha reiterated that the ministry was committed to ensuring that the GEG bill would be passed by Parliament for the benefit of future generations. – FMT