KUALA LUMPUR:Pressure and lobbying from the tobacco and vape industry had influenced a "decision" on the anti-smoking bill, which included the generational endgame (GEG) provision.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, when revealing this in Dewan Rakyat today, said there were conflicting views on the components of the GEG, which was removed from the anti-smoking bill last year.
"We need cooperation and support from all quarters. Looking at our experience in tabling the GEG bill, we had conflicting views (on it).
"There was pressure from the industry, with industry (players) coming to Parliament and meeting with members of parliament. This influenced that decision."
He said this in response to Dr Halimah Ali (Perikatan Nasional-Kapar) who had asked about lobbying from the tobacco and vape industry.
Lukanisman however did not elaborate on the "decision" that was influenced by the industry players.
The provision prohibiting Malaysians born after 2007 from buying or consuming nicotine products - dubbed the GEG - was dropped from the latest version of the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Bill 2023, which was tabled in the last Parliament sitting.
Then Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the GEG provision was dropped after taking into consideration the views from the Attorney-General's Chambers, who cited potential constitutional arguments.
to the GEG's decoupling from the bill.
Former Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin first tabled the bill in July 2022.